Thioacetate compounds, compositions and methods of use

ABSTRACT

Described herein are compounds useful in the modulation of blood uric acid levels, formulations containing them and methods of using them. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein are used in the treatment or prevention of disorders related to aberrant levels of uric acid.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/355,491 filed Jun. 16, 2010, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Uric acid is the result of the oxidation of xanthine. Disorders of uricacid metabolism include, but are not limited to, polycythemia, myeloidmetaplasia, gout, a recurrent gout attack, gouty arthritis,hyperuricaemia, hypertension, a cardiovascular disease, coronary heartdisease, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, kidneydisease, kidney stones, kidney failure, joint inflammation, arthritis,urolithiasis, plumbism, hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis or sarcoidosis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In certain embodiments, provided herein are compounds, methods andcompositions, e.g., for the modulation of serum uric acid levels (sUA)or the treatment of gout or hyperuricemia in individuals in needthereof. In some embodiments, such compositions comprise and suchmethods comprise the administration to an individual in need thereof aneffective amount of a compound of formula I:

-   -   wherein:    -   R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from H, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl; or        R^(a) and R^(b), together with the carbon atom to which they are        attached, form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally        containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S;    -   M is H, C₁₋₃ alkyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation;    -   X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄ alkyl);    -   X² is N or CH;    -   X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄ alkyl);    -   X⁴ is N or CH; wherein at least one of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N;    -   Y¹ is N or CR¹;    -   Y² is N or CR²;    -   R¹ is H, CF₃, CH₃, OCH₃, F or Cl;    -   R² is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl,        cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃,        SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂,        CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl;    -   R³ is H, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; and    -   R⁴ is H, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; or    -   R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they are        attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring,        optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N        and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an        unsaturated or an aromatic ring;

In specific instances:

-   -   (i) if X² and X⁴ are both N, then X¹ cannot be C(halogen); or        -   if X² and X⁴ are both N, then R⁴ cannot be Cl; or        -   if X² and X⁴ are both N, then Y² cannot be C—Cl;    -   (ii) if X¹ and X² are both N, then X³ cannot be C—Cl; and    -   (iii) the compound of formula (I) is not        1-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)cyclopropanecarboxylic        acid.

Provided in certain embodiments, is a compound of formula (I), whereinone of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N. Certain specific embodiments providedherein describe a compound of formula (I-A), (I-B), (I-C) or (I-D):

Provided in some embodiments, is a compound of formula (I), wherein twoof X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ are N. Certain specific embodiments provided hereindescribe a compound of formula (I-E), (I-F) or (I-G):

Other specific embodiments provided herein describe a compound offormula (I-H), (I-I) or (I-J):

Provided in some embodiments herein, is a compound of formula (I),wherein R³ is H, CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, F or Cl; and R⁴ is H, CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, For Cl. In certain specific embodiments, R³ and R⁴ are both H.

Some embodiments provided herein describe a compound of formula (I),wherein R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they areattached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring,optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S,wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated oran aromatic ring.

Certain embodiments provided herein describe a compound of formula (I),wherein R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they areattached form an optionally substituted, 6-membered aromatic ring.Certain specific embodiments provided herein describe a compound offormula (I-K):

-   -   wherein n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and        each R⁵ is independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl,        isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃,        ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH,        COOR^(5′), CONH₂, CONHR^(5′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(5′) is H or        C₁₋₃ alkyl.

Provided herein in certain embodiments is a compound of formula (I),wherein R^(a) is H or CH₃; and R^(b) is H or CH₃. In specificembodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are both CH₃. Certain specific embodimentsprovided herein describe a compound of formula (I-L):

In further or additional embodiments, X¹ is CH; X² is N; X³ is CH; andX⁴ is CH. In yet further or additional embodiments, Y¹ is CR¹; and Y² isCR².

Certain specific embodiments provided herein describe a compound offormula (I-B), selected from the group consisting of:

Other specific embodiments provided herein describe a compound offormula (I-M):

In certain specific embodiments, R¹, R³ and R⁴ are all H.

Provided herein in some embodiments is a compound of formula (I),wherein R^(a) and R^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they areattached form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing oneor two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S. In certain embodiments,R^(a) and R^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attachedform a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring. In certain specific embodiments,R^(a) and R^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attachedform a 3-membered ring.

Provided herein in certain embodiments is a compound of formula (I),wherein M is H. In some embodiments provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein M is C₁-C₃ alkyl. In other embodiments providedherein is a compound of formula (I), wherein M is a pharmaceuticallyacceptable cation. In specific embodiments, the pharmaceuticallyacceptable cation is Na⁺, Li⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺,tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylamino, dimethylamino,trimethylamino or triethylamino.

Also provided herein in some embodiments is a method of reducing serumuric acid levels in a human, comprising administering to the human aneffective amount of a compound of formula (I). Other embodimentsprovided herein describe a method of treating hyperuricemia in a humanwith gout, comprising administering to the human an effective amount ofa compound of formula (I). Some embodiments provided herein describe amethod of treating hyperuricemia in a human, comprising administering tothe human an effective amount of a compound of formula (I). Certainembodiments provided herein describe a method of treating gout in ahuman, comprising administering to the human an effective amount of acompound of formula (I).

Also provided herein in certain embodiments is a method of treating orpreventing a condition characterized by abnormal tissue or organ levelsof uric acid in an individual comprising administering to the individualan effective amount of a compound of formula (I). In specificembodiments, the condition is gout, a recurrent gout attack, goutyarthritis, hyperuricaemia, hypertension, a cardiovascular disease,coronary heart disease, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmillersyndrome, kidney disease, kidney stones, kidney failure, jointinflammation, arthritis, urolithiasis, plumbism, hyperparathyroidism,psoriasis, sarcoidosis, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase(HPRT) deficiency or a combination thereof. In certain specificembodiments, the condition is gout.

In some embodiments, any of the methods described further compriseadministering a second agent effective for the treatment of the gout. Incertain embodiments, the second agent is a URAT 1 inhibitor, a xanthineoxidase inhibitor, a xanthine dehydrogenase, a xanthine oxidoreductaseinhibitor, or combinations thereof. In certain specific embodiments, thesecond agent is allopurinol, febuxostat, FYX-051, or combinationsthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. A better understanding of the features andadvantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments,in which the principles of the invention are utilized.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatsuch embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilledin the art without departing from the invention. It should be understoodthat various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention describedherein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended thatthe following claims define the scope of the invention and that methodsand structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents becovered thereby.

The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes onlyand are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Certain Chemical Terminology

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in theart to which the claimed subject matter belongs. In the event that thereis a plurality of definitions for terms herein, those in this sectionprevail.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of any subject matter claimed. In this application,the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should alsobe noted that use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise.Furthermore, use of the term “including” as well as other forms, such as“include”, “includes”, and “included” is not limiting.

Definition of standard chemistry terms may be found in reference works,including Carey and Sundberg “ADVANCED ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 4^(TH) ED.”Vols. A (2000) and B (2001), Plenum Press, New York. Unless otherwiseindicated, conventional methods of mass spectroscopy, NMR, HPLC, IR andUV/Vis spectroscopy and pharmacology, within the skill of the art areemployed. Unless specific definitions are provided, the nomenclatureemployed herein are the standard definitions. Standard techniques can beused for chemical syntheses, chemical analyses, pharmaceuticalpreparation, formulation, and delivery, and treatment of individuals.Reactions and purification techniques can be performed e.g., using kitsof manufacturer's specifications or as commonly accomplished in the artor as described herein. The foregoing techniques and procedures can begenerally performed of conventional methods well known in the art and asdescribed in various general and more specific references that are citedand discussed throughout the present specification. Throughout thespecification, groups and substituents thereof can be chosen by oneskilled in the field to provide stable moieties and compounds.

Where substituent groups are specified by their conventional chemicalformulas, written from left to right, they equally encompass thechemically identical substituents that would result from writing thestructure from right to left. As a non-limiting example, —CH₂O— isequivalent to —OCH₂—.

Unless otherwise noted, the use of general chemical terms, such asthough not limited to “alkyl,” “amine,” “aryl,” are equivalent to theiroptionally substituted forms. For example, “alkyl,” as used herein,includes optionally substituted alkyl.

In some embodiments, the compounds presented herein possess one or morestereocenters. In some embodiments, the stereocenter is in the Rconfiguration, the S configuration, or combinations thereof. In someembodiments, the compounds presented herein possess one or more doublebonds. In some embodiments, the compounds presented herein possess oneor more double bonds wherein each double bond exists in the E (trans) orZ (cis) configuration, or combinations thereof. Presentation of oneparticular stereoisomer, regioisomer, diastereomer, enantiomer or epimershould be understood to include all possible stereoisomers,regioisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers or epimers and mixturesthereof. Thus, the compounds presented herein include all separateconfigurational stereoisomeric, regioisomeric, diastereomeric,enantiomeric, and epimeric forms as well as the corresponding mixturesthereof. Techniques for inverting or leaving unchanged a particularstereocenter, and those for resolving mixtures of stereoisomers are arefound, for example, Furniss et al. (eds.), VOGEL'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OFPRACTICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 5.sup.TH ED., Longman Scientific andTechnical Ltd., Essex, 1991, 809-816; and Heller, Acc. Chem. Res. 1990,23, 128.

The terms “moiety”, “chemical moiety”, “group” and “chemical group”, asused herein refer to a specific segment or functional group of amolecule. Chemical moieties are often recognized chemical entitiesembedded in or appended to a molecule.

The term “reactant,” as used herein, refers to a nucleophile orelectrophile used to create covalent linkages.

The term “bond” or “single bond” refers to a chemical bond between twoatoms, or two moieties when the atoms joined by the bond are consideredto be part of larger substructure.

The term “optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequentlydescribed event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that thedescription includes instances where said event or circumstance occursand instances in which it does not. For example, “optionally substitutedalkyl” means either “alkyl” or “substituted alkyl” as defined below.Further, an optionally substituted group may be un-substituted (e.g.,—CH₂CH₃), fully substituted (e.g., —CF₂CF₃), mono-substituted (e.g.,—CH₂CH₂F) or substituted at a level anywhere in-between fullysubstituted and mono-substituted (e.g., —CH₂CHF₂, —CH₂CF₃, —CF₂CH₃,—CFHCHF₂, etc). It will be understood by those skilled in the art withrespect to any group containing one or more substituents that suchgroups are not intended to introduce any substitution or substitutionpatterns (e.g., substituted alkyl includes optionally substitutedcycloalkyl groups, which in turn are defined as including optionallysubstituted alkyl groups, potentially ad infinitum) that are stericallyimpractical and/or synthetically non-feasible. Thus, any substituentsdescribed should generally be understood as having a maximum molecularweight of about 1,000 daltons, and more typically, up to about 500daltons (except in those instances where macromolecular substituents areclearly intended, e.g., polypeptides, polysaccharides, polyethyleneglycols, DNA, RNA and the like).

In certain non-limiting examples, “optionally substituted” indicatesthat the group is optionally substituted with alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, heteroalkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl,haloalkynyl, perhaloalkyl, halo, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,heteroalicycl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocycl, heterocycl, hydroxy, alkoxy,cyano, cyanoalkyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, amino, an amino acid, fusedcycloalkyl, spiro cycloalkyl, fused heteroaryl, fused aryl, sulfonyl,sulfinyl, sulfonamidyl, sulfamidyl, phoshonate ester, amido, ether,alkylester, or combinations thereof. In specific instances, a groupdesignated as “optionally substituted” indicates that the group isoptionally substituted with hydrogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano,methylthiol, thiol, azido, methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl,iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, 2-methyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-2-propyl,2-methyl-1-butyl, 3-methyl-1-butyl, 2-methyl-3-butyl,2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-1-pentyl, 3-methyl-1-pentyl,4-methyl-1-pentyl, 2-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-methyl-2-pentyl,4-methyl-2-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-butyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl,2-ethyl-1-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, neo-pentyl, tert-amyl, hexyl,heptyl, octyl. ethenyl (—CH═CH₂), 1-propenyl (—CH₂CH═CH₂), isopropenyl[—C(CH₃)═CH₂], butenyl, 1,3-butadienyl, ethynyl, 2-propynyl, 2-butynyl,1,3-butadiynyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, fluoromethyl,difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chloromethyl, dichloromethyl,trichloromethyl, bromomethyl, dibromomethyl, tribromomethyl,1-chloro-1-fluoro-1-iodoethyl, fluroethyl, bromoethyl, chloroethyl,iodoethyl, fluropropyl, bromopropyl, chloropropyl, iodopropyl,fluoroethenyl, chloroethenyl, bromoethenyl, iodoethenyl, fluoroethynylchloroethynyl, bromoethynyl, iodoethynyl, trifluoroethenyl,trichloroethenyl, tribromoethenyl, trifluoropropynyl, trichloropropynyl,tribromopropynyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cycloheoptyl, spirocyclopropyl, spirocyclobutyl, spirocyclopentyl,pyridinyl, pyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thiofuranyl, aziridinyl,oxiranyl, oxaziridinyl, dioxiranyl, azetidinyl, oxazyl, oxetanyl,theitanyl, pyrrolidinyl, oxolanyl, thiolanyl, oxazolidinyl,thiazolidinyl, decalinyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, adamantly,dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dihydropyranyl,tetrahydrothiopyranyl, piperidino, morpholino, thiomorpholino,thioxanyl, piperazinyl, homopiperidinyl, oxepanyl, thiepanyl,oxazepinyl, diazepinyl, thiazepinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl,2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, indolinyl, 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, dioxanyl,1,3-dioxolanyl, pyrazolinyl, dithianyl, dithiolanyl, dihydropyranyl,dihydrothienyl, dihydrofuranyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanyl,3H-indolyl, quinolizinyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclopentadienyl,bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy,n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, furanyl, thienyl,acridinyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenazinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl,benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzothiophenyl,benzoxadiazolyl, benzotriazolyl, imidazolyl, indolyl, isoxazolyl,isoquinolinyl, indolizinyl, isothiazolyl, isoindolyloxadiazolyl,indazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl,pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, purinyl, phthalazinyl, pteridinyl, quinolinyl,quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, triazinyl,thiadiazolyl, pyridyl-N-oxide, methyl sulfonyl, ethyl sulfonyl,aminosulfonyl, trifluoromethyl sulfonyl, phosphinic acid, carboxylicacid, amido, amino, methylamine, ethylamine, dimethylamine,diethylamine, aminoethyldimethylamine, aminoethyldiethylamine,methylester, ethylester, propylester, isopropylester, butylester, orcombinations thereof.

As used herein, C₁-C_(x) includes C₁-C₂, C₁-C₃ . . . C₁-C_(x). By way ofexample only, “C₁-C₄” indicates that there are one to four carbon atomsin the moiety, i.e. groups containing 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3carbon atoms or 4 carbon atoms, as well as the ranges C₁-C₂ and C₁-C₃.Thus, by way of example only, “C₁-C₄ alkyl” indicates that there are oneto four carbon atoms in the alkyl group, i.e., the alkyl group isselected from among methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl,iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and t-butyl. Whenever it appears herein, anumerical range such as “1 to 10” refers to each integer in the givenrange; e.g., “1 to 10 carbon atoms” means that the group may have 1carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, 4 carbon atoms, 5 carbonatoms, 6 carbon atoms, 7 carbon atoms, 8 carbon atoms, 9 carbon atoms,or 10 carbon atoms.

The term “lower” as used herein in combination with terms such as alkyl,alkenyl or alkynyl, (i.e. “lower alkyl”, “lower alkenyl” or “loweralkynyl”) refers to an optionally substituted straight-chain, oroptionally substituted branched-chain saturated hydrocarbon monoradicalhaving from one to about six carbon atoms, more preferably one to threecarbon atoms. Examples include, but are not limited to methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, 2-methyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-2-propyl,2-methyl-1-butyl, 3-methyl-1-butyl, 2-methyl-3-butyl,2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-1-pentyl, 3-methyl-1-pentyl,4-methyl-1-pentyl, 2-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-methyl-2-pentyl,4-methyl-2-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-butyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl,2-ethyl-1-butyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl,isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-amyl and hexyl.

The term “hydrocarbon” as used herein, alone or in combination, refersto a compound or chemical group containing only carbon and hydrogenatoms.

The terms “heteroatom” or “hetero” as used herein, alone or incombination, refer to an atom other than carbon or hydrogen. Heteroatomsare may be independently selected from among oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,phosphorous, silicon, selenium and tin but are not limited to theseatoms. In embodiments in which two or more heteroatoms are present, thetwo or more heteroatoms can be the same as each another, or some or allof the two or more heteroatoms can each be different from the others.

The term “alkyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to anoptionally substituted straight-chain, or optionally substitutedbranched-chain saturated hydrocarbon monoradical having from one toabout ten carbon atoms, more preferably one to six carbon atoms.Examples include, but are not limited to methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,isopropyl, 2-methyl-1-propyl, 2-methyl-2-propyl, 2-methyl-1-butyl,3-methyl-1-butyl, 2-methyl-3-butyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl,2-methyl-1-pentyl, 3-methyl-1-pentyl, 4-methyl-1-pentyl,2-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-methyl-2-pentyl, 4-methyl-2-pentyl,2,2-dimethyl-1-butyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl, 2-ethyl-1-butyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-amyland hexyl, and longer alkyl groups, such as heptyl, octyl and the like.Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “C₁-C₆ alkyl” or“C₁₋₆ alkyl”, means that the alkyl group may consist of 1 carbon atom, 2carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, 4 carbon atoms, 5 carbon atoms or 6 carbonatoms, although the present definition also covers the occurrence of theterm “alkyl” where no numerical range is designated.

The term “alkylene” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to adiradical derived from the above-defined monoradical, alkyl. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to methylene (—CH₂—), ethylene (—CH₂CH₂—),propylene (—CH₂CH₂CH₂—), isopropylene (—CH(CH₃)CH₂—) and the like.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to anoptionally substituted straight-chain, or optionally substitutedbranched-chain hydrocarbon monoradical having one or more carbon-carbondouble-bonds and having from two to about ten carbon atoms, morepreferably two to about six carbon atoms. The group may be in either thecis or trans conformation about the double bond(s), and should beunderstood to include both isomers. Examples include, but are notlimited to ethenyl (—CH═CH₂), 1-propenyl (—CH₂CH═CH₂), isopropenyl[—C(CH₃)═CH₂], butenyl, 1,3-butadienyl and the like. Whenever it appearsherein, a numerical range such as “C₂-C₆ alkenyl” or “C₂₋₆ alkenyl”,means that the alkenyl group may consist of 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbonatoms, 4 carbon atoms, 5 carbon atoms or 6 carbon atoms, although thepresent definition also covers the occurrence of the term “alkenyl”where no numerical range is designated.

The term “alkenylene” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers toa diradical derived from the above-defined monoradical alkenyl. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to ethenylene (—CH═CH—), the propenyleneisomers (e.g., —CH₂CH═CH— and —C(CH₃)═CH—) and the like.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to anoptionally substituted straight-chain or optionally substitutedbranched-chain hydrocarbon monoradical having one or more carbon-carbontriple-bonds and having from two to about ten carbon atoms, morepreferably from two to about six carbon atoms. Examples include, but arenot limited to ethynyl, 2-propynyl, 2-butynyl, 1,3-butadiynyl and thelike. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “C₂-C₆alkynyl” or “C₂₋₆ alkynyl”, means that the alkynyl group may consist of2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, 4 carbon atoms, 5 carbon atoms or 6carbon atoms, although the present definition also covers the occurrenceof the term “alkynyl” where no numerical range is designated.

The term “alkynylene” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers toa diradical derived from the above-defined monoradical, alkynyl.Examples include, but are not limited to ethynylene (—C≡C—),propargylene (—CH₂—C≡C—) and the like.

The term “aliphatic” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers toan optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched-chain, non-cyclic,saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated nonaromatichydrocarbon. Thus, the term collectively includes alkyl, alkenyl andalkynyl groups.

The terms “heteroalkyl”, “heteroalkenyl” and “heteroalkynyl” as usedherein, alone or in combination, refer to optionally substituted alkyl,alkenyl and alkynyl structures respectively, as described above, inwhich one or more of the skeletal chain carbon atoms (and any associatedhydrogen atoms, as appropriate) are each independently replaced with aheteroatom (i.e. an atom other than carbon, such as though not limitedto oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorous, tin or combinationsthereof), or heteroatomic group such as though not limited to —O—O—,—S—S—, —O—S—, —S—O—, ═N—N═, —N═N—, —N═N—NH—, —P(O)₂—, —O—P(O)₂—,—P(O)₂—O—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —SnH₂— and the like.

The terms “haloalkyl”, “haloalkenyl” and “haloalkynyl” as used herein,alone or in combination, refer to optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyland alkynyl groups respectively, as defined above, in which one or morehydrogen atoms is replaced by fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodineatoms, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments two or more hydrogenatoms may be replaced with halogen atoms that are the same as eachanother (e.g. difluoromethyl); in other embodiments two or more hydrogenatoms may be replaced with halogen atoms that are not all the same aseach other (e.g. 1-chloro-1-fluoro-1-iodoethyl). Non-limiting examplesof haloalkyl groups are fluoromethyl and bromoethyl. A non-limitingexample of a haloalkenyl group is bromoethenyl. A non-limiting exampleof a haloalkynyl group is chloroethynyl.

The term “perhalo” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers togroups in which all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorines,chlorines, bromines, iodines, or combinations thereof. Thus, as anon-limiting example, the term “perhaloalkyl” refers to an alkyl group,as defined herein, in which all of the H atoms have been replaced byfluorines, chlorines, bromines or iodines, or combinations thereof. Anon-limiting example of a perhaloalkyl group is bromo, chloro,fluoromethyl. A non-limiting example of a perhaloalkenyl group istrichloroethenyl. A non-limiting example of a perhaloalkynyl group istribromopropynyl.

The term “carbon chain” as used herein, alone or in combination, refersto any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl orheteroalkynyl group, which is linear, cyclic, or any combinationthereof. If the chain is part of a linker and that linker comprises oneor more rings as part of the core backbone, for purposes of calculatingchain length, the “chain” only includes those carbon atoms that composethe bottom or top of a given ring and not both, and where the top andbottom of the ring(s) are not equivalent in length, the shorter distanceshall be used in determining the chain length. If the chain containsheteroatoms as part of the backbone, those atoms are not calculated aspart of the carbon chain length.

The terms “cycle”, “cyclic”, “ring” and “membered ring” as used herein,alone or in combination, refer to any covalently closed structure,including alicyclic, heterocyclic, aromatic, heteroaromatic andpolycyclic fused or non-fused ring systems as described herein. Ringscan be optionally substituted. Rings can form part of a fused ringsystem. The term “membered” is meant to denote the number of skeletalatoms that constitute the ring. Thus, by way of example only,cyclohexane, pyridine, pyran and pyrimidine are six-membered rings andcyclopentane, pyrrole, tetrahydrofuran and thiophene are five-memberedrings.

The term “fused” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tocyclic structures in which two or more rings share one or more bonds.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers toan optionally substituted, saturated, hydrocarbon monoradical ring,containing from three to about fifteen ring carbon atoms or from threeto about ten ring carbon atoms, though may include additional, non-ringcarbon atoms as substituents (e.g. methylcyclopropyl). Whenever itappears herein, a numerical range such as “C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl” or “C₃₋₆cycloalkyl”, means that the cycloalkyl group may consist of 3 carbonatoms, 4 carbon atoms, 5 carbon atoms or 6 carbon atoms, i.e., iscyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cycloheptyl, although thepresent definition also covers the occurrence of the term “cycloalkyl”where no numerical range is designated. The term includes fused,non-fused, bridged and spiro radicals. A fused cycloalkyl may containfrom two to four fused rings where the ring of attachment is acycloalkyl ring, and the other individual rings may be alicyclic,heterocyclic, aromatic, heteroaromatic or any combination thereof.Examples include, but are not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, decalinyl, and bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl and adamantyl ringsystems. Illustrative examples include, but are not limited to thefollowing moieties:

and the like.

The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refersto an optionally substituted hydrocarbon non-aromatic, monoradical ring,having one or more carbon-carbon double-bonds and from three to abouttwenty ring carbon atoms, three to about twelve ring carbon atoms, orfrom three to about ten ring carbon atoms. The term includes fused,non-fused, bridged and spiro radicals. A fused cycloalkenyl may containfrom two to four fused rings where the ring of attachment is acycloalkenyl ring, and the other individual rings may be alicyclic,heterocyclic, aromatic, heteroaromatic or any combination thereof. Fusedring systems may be fused across a bond that is a carbon-carbon singlebond or a carbon-carbon double bond. Examples of cycloalkenyls include,but are not limited to cyclohexenyl, cyclopentadienyl andbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ring systems. Illustrative examples include,but are not limited to the following moieties:

and the like.

The terms “alicyclyl” or “alicyclic” as used herein, alone or incombination, refer to an optionally substituted, saturated, partiallyunsaturated, or fully unsaturated nonaromatic hydrocarbon ring systemscontaining from three to about twenty ring carbon atoms, three to abouttwelve ring carbon atoms, or from three to about ten ring carbon atoms.Thus, the terms collectively include cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl groups.

The terms “non-aromatic heterocyclyl” and “heteroalicyclyl” as usedherein, alone or in combination, refer to optionally substituted,saturated, partially unsaturated, or fully unsaturated nonaromatic ringmonoradicals containing from three to about twenty ring atoms, where oneor more of the ring atoms are an atom other than carbon, independentlyselected from among oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, silicon,selenium and tin but are not limited to these atoms. In embodiments inwhich two or more heteroatoms are present in the ring, the two or moreheteroatoms can be the same as each another, or some or all of the twoor more heteroatoms can each be different from the others. The termsinclude fused, non-fused, bridged and spiro radicals. A fusednon-aromatic heterocyclic radical may contain from two to four fusedrings where the attaching ring is a non-aromatic heterocycle, and theother individual rings may be alicyclic, heterocyclic, aromatic,heteroaromatic or any combination thereof. Fused ring systems may befused across a single bond or a double bond, as well as across bondsthat are carbon-carbon, carbon-hetero atom or hetero atom-hetero atom.The terms also include radicals having from three to about twelveskeletal ring atoms, as well as those having from three to about tenskeletal ring atoms. Attachment of a non-aromatic heterocyclic subunitto its parent molecule can be via a heteroatom or a carbon atom.Likewise, additional substitution can be via a heteroatom or a carbonatom. As a non-limiting example, an imidazolidine non-aromaticheterocycle may be attached to a parent molecule via either of its Natoms (imidazolidin-1-yl or imidazolidin-3-yl) or any of its carbonatoms (imidazolidin-2-yl, imidazolidin-4-yl or imidazolidin-5-yl). Incertain embodiments, non-aromatic heterocycles contain one or morecarbonyl or thiocarbonyl groups such as, for example, oxo- andthio-containing groups. Examples include, but are not limited topyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,tetrahydropyranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, piperidino,morpholino, thiomorpholino, thioxanyl, piperazinyl, azetidinyl,oxetanyl, thietanyl, homopiperidinyl, oxepanyl, thiepanyl, oxazepinyl,diazepinyl, thiazepinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, 2-pyrrolinyl,3-pyrrolinyl, indolinyl, 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, dioxanyl,1,3-dioxolanyl, pyrazolinyl, dithianyl, dithiolanyl, dihydropyranyl,dihydrothienyl, dihydrofuranyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanyl,3H-indolyl and quinolizinyl. Illustrative examples of heterocycloalkylgroups, also referred to as non-aromatic heterocycles, include:

and the like. The terms also include all ring forms of thecarbohydrates, including but not limited to the monosaccharides, thedisaccharides and the oligosaccharides.

The term “aromatic” as used herein, refers to a planar, cyclic orpolycyclic, ring moiety having a delocalized π-electron systemcontaining 4n+2 π electrons, where n is an integer. Aromatic rings canbe formed by five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more than nine atoms.Aromatics can be optionally substituted and can be monocyclic orfused-ring polycyclic. The term aromatic encompasses both all carboncontaining rings (e.g., phenyl) and those rings containing one or moreheteroatoms (e.g., pyridine).

The term “aryl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to anoptionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon radical of six to abouttwenty ring carbon atoms, and includes fused and non-fused aryl rings. Afused aryl ring radical contains from two to four fused rings where thering of attachment is an aryl ring, and the other individual rings maybe alicyclic, heterocyclic, aromatic, heteroaromatic or any combinationthereof. Further, the term aryl includes fused and non-fused ringscontaining from six to about twelve ring carbon atoms, as well as thosecontaining from six to about ten ring carbon atoms. A non-limitingexample of a single ring aryl group includes phenyl; a fused ring arylgroup includes naphthyl, phenanthrenyl, anthracenyl, azulenyl; and anon-fused bi-aryl group includes biphenyl.

The term “arylene” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to adiradical derived from the above-defined monoradical, aryl. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to 1,2-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene,1,4-phenylene, 1,2-naphthylene and the like.

The term “heteroaryl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tooptionally substituted aromatic monoradicals containing from about fiveto about twenty skeletal ring atoms, where one or more of the ring atomsis a heteroatom independently selected from among oxygen, nitrogen,sulfur, phosphorous, silicon, selenium and tin but not limited to theseatoms and with the proviso that the ring of said group does not containtwo adjacent O or S atoms. In embodiments in which two or moreheteroatoms are present in the ring, the two or more heteroatoms can bethe same as each another, or some or all of the two or more heteroatomscan each be different from the others. The term heteroaryl includesoptionally substituted fused and non-fused heteroaryl radicals having atleast one heteroatom. The term heteroaryl also includes fused andnon-fused heteroaryls having from five to about twelve skeletal ringatoms, as well as those having from five to about ten skeletal ringatoms. Bonding to a heteroaryl group can be via a carbon atom or aheteroatom. Thus, as a non-limiting example, an imidiazole group may beattached to a parent molecule via any of its carbon atoms(imidazol-2-yl, imidazol-4-yl or imidazol-5-yl), or its nitrogen atoms(imidazol-1-yl or imidazol-3-yl). Likewise, a heteroaryl group may befurther substituted via any or all of its carbon atoms, and/or any orall of its heteroatoms. A fused heteroaryl radical may contain from twoto four fused rings where the ring of attachment is a heteroaromaticring and the other individual rings may be alicyclic, heterocyclic,aromatic, heteroaromatic or any combination thereof. A non-limitingexample of a single ring heteroaryl group includes pyridyl; fused ringheteroaryl groups include benzimidazolyl, quinolinyl, acridinyl; and anon-fused bi-heteroaryl group includes bipyridinyl. Further examples ofheteroaryls include, without limitation, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl,acridinyl, phenazinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzoxazolyl,benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzoxadiazolyl,benzotriazolyl, imidazolyl, indolyl, isoxazolyl, isoquinolinyl,indolizinyl, isothiazolyl, isoindolyloxadiazolyl, indazolyl, pyridyl,pyridazyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl,purinyl, phthalazinyl, pteridinyl, quinolinyl, quinazolinyl,quinoxalinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, triazinyl, thiadiazolyland the like, and their oxides, such as for example pyridyl-N-oxide.Illustrative examples of heteroaryl groups include the followingmoieties:

and the like.

The term “heteroarylene” as used herein, alone or in combination, refersto a diradical derived from the above-defined monoradical heteroaryl.Examples include, but are not limited to pyridinyl and pyrimidinyl.

The term “heterocyclyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, referscollectively to heteroalicyclyl and heteroaryl groups. Herein, wheneverthe number of carbon atoms in a heterocycle is indicated (e.g., C₁-C₆heterocycle), at least one non-carbon atom (the heteroatom) must bepresent in the ring. Designations such as “C₁-C₆ heterocycle” refer onlyto the number of carbon atoms in the ring and do not refer to the totalnumber of atoms in the ring. Designations such as “4-6 memberedheterocycle” refer to the total number of atoms that are contained inthe ring (i.e., a four, five, or six membered ring, in which at leastone atom is a carbon atom, at least one atom is a heteroatom and theremaining two to four atoms are either carbon atoms or heteroatoms). Forheterocycles having two or more heteroatoms, those two or moreheteroatoms can be the same or different from one another. Heterocyclescan be optionally substituted. Non-aromatic heterocyclic groups includegroups having only three atoms in the ring, while aromatic heterocyclicgroups must have at least five atoms in the ring. Bonding (i.e.attachment to a parent molecule or further substitution) to aheterocycle can be via a heteroatom or a carbon atom.

The term “carbocyclyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, referscollectively to alicyclyl and aryl groups; i.e. all carbon, covalentlyclosed ring structures, which may be saturated, partially unsaturated,fully unsaturated or aromatic. Carbocyclic rings can be formed by three,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more than nine carbon atoms.Carbocycles can be optionally substituted. The term distinguishescarbocyclic from heterocyclic rings in which the ring backbone containsat least one atom which is different from carbon.

The terms “halogen”, “halo” or “halide” as used herein, alone or incombination refer to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

The term “hydroxy” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tothe monoradical —OH.

The term “cyano” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to themonoradical —CN.

The term “cyanomethyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refersto the monoradical —CH₂CN.

The term “nitro” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to themonoradical —NO₂.

The term “oxy” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to thediradical —O—.

The term “oxo” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to thediradical ═O.

The term “carbonyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tothe diradical —C(═O)—, which may also be written as —C(O)—.

The terms “carboxy” or “carboxyl” as used herein, alone or incombination, refer to the moiety —C(O)OH, which may also be written as—COOH.

The term “alkoxy” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers to analkyl ether radical, —O-alkyl, including the groups —O-aliphatic and—O-carbocyclyl, wherein the alkyl, aliphatic and carbocyclyl groups maybe optionally substituted, and wherein the terms alkyl, aliphatic andcarbocyclyl are as defined herein. Non-limiting examples of alkoxyradicals include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy,iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy and the like.

The term “sulfinyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tothe diradical —S(═O)—.

The term “sulfonyl” as used herein, alone or in combination, refers tothe diradical —S(═O)₂—.

The terms “sulfonamide”, “sulfonamido” and “sulfonamidyl” as usedherein, alone or in combination, refer to the diradical groups—S(═O)₂—NH— and —NH—S(═O)₂—.

The terms “sulfamide”, “sulfamido” and “sulfamidyl” as used herein,alone or in combination, refer to the diradical group —NH—S(═O)₂—NH—.

It is to be understood that in instances where two or more radicals areused in succession to define a substituent attached to a structure, thefirst named radical is considered to be terminal and the last namedradical is considered to be attached to the structure in question. Thus,for example, the radical arylalkyl is attached to the structure inquestion by the alkyl group.

The term “amino acid” as used herein refers to a group or compound thatconsists of an amino group, a carboxyl group, a H atom and a distinctiveR group (or side chain). “Amino acid” includes, α-amino acids, β-aminoacids, δ-amino acids, and γ-amino acids. α-Amino acids consists of anamino group, a carboxyl group, a H atom and a distinctive R group whichis bonded to the α-carbon atom. “Amino acid” includes natural aminoacids, unnatural amino acids, amino acid analogs, amino acid mimics, andthe like.

In one aspect, the term “amino acid” refers to one of the naturallyoccurring twenty amino acids (i.e. α-amino acids), as shown below Aminoacids consist of an amino group, a carboxyl group, an H atom and adistinctive R group (or side chain), all of which are bonded to anα-carbon atom. As a result of containing three differing groups on theα-carbon atom, amino acids contain a chiral center, and therefore mayexist as either of two optically active enantiomers, the D- and the L-.Naturally occurring acids are found as their L-derivatives.

In another aspect, the amino acid is an “unnatural amino acid”,“non-natural amino acid”, “amino acid analog”, “amino acid mimic”“Unnatural amino acid”, “non-natural amino acid”, “amino acid analog”,“amino acid mimic” and the like, as used herein, refer to an amino acidthat is not one of the 20 natural amino acids. These terms refer toamino acids wherein the fundamental amino acid molecule has beenmodified in some way. Such modifications include, though are not limitedto side chain variations; substitutions on, or alterations to, theamino-CH-carboxyl backbone; D-enantiomers; combinations thereof and thelike.

These terms also include, but are not limited to, amino acids whichoccur naturally but are not naturally incorporated into a growingpolypeptide chain, such as, though not limited toN-acetylglucosaminyl-L-serine, N-acetylglucosaminyl-L-threonine,0-phosphotyrosine and the like. Further, these terms also include, butare not limited to, amino acids which do not occur naturally and may beobtained synthetically or may be obtained by modification of natural,naturally occurring or non-natural amino acids.

Illustrative examples of side chain variations include though are notlimited to, 0-t-butyl-serine, hydroxyproline, 4-chlorophenylalanine,homoserine, methionine sulfoxide, thienylalanine and the like.

Illustrative examples of backbone alterations include though are notlimited to, β-amino acids such as β-alanine, homoproline, alkylation ofthe amino group, substitution on the α-carbon atom, thiocarboxyls andthe like.

A peptide can be natural or unnatural, and consists of amino acids thatare linked together. The terms “natural peptide”, “natural polypeptide”,“natural protein” and the like, as used herein, refer to a polymer ofnatural amino acid residues linked by covalent peptide bonds, andinclude amino acid chains of any length, including full length proteins.The terms “unnatural peptide”, “peptide mimic”, “peptide analog”,“unnatural polypeptide”, “unnatural protein” and the like, as usedherein, refer to a polymer of amino acid residues of any length,including full length proteins, wherein one or more of the amino acidsis an unnatural amino acid, and/or wherein one or more of the aminoacids are joined by chemical means other than natural peptide bonds.Illustrative examples of linking groups that can be used as alternativesto the natural peptide bond include, but are not limited to ethylene(—CH₂—CH₂—), ethynylene (—CH═CH—), ketomethylene (—C(═O)CH₂— or—CH₂C(═O)—), aminomethylene (—CH₂—NH— or —NH—CH₂—), methylene ether(—CH₂—O— or —O—CH₂—), thioether (—CH₂—S— or —S—CH₂—), thioamide(—C(═S)NH— or —NH—C(═S)—), ester (—C(═O)O— or O—C(═O)—), tetrazole,thiazole and the like.

“Nucleoside” is a glycosylamine consisting of a nucleobase (oftenreferred to simply base) bound to a ribose or deoxyribose sugar. Anucleoside can be a natural nucleoside or an unnatural nucleoside. Theterm “natural nucleoside” as used herein refers to a nucleobase bound toa ribose or deoxyribose sugar. Examples of these include cytidine,uridine, adenosine, guanosine, thymidine and inosine.

The terms “unnatural nucleoside”, “nucleoside analog” and the like, asused herein, refer to a nucleoside that is not one of the 6 nucleosides.These terms refer to nucleosides wherein the fundamental nucleosidemolecule has been modified in some way. Such modifications include,though are not limited to base modifications, sugar modifications,alterations of the linkages between the base and sugar, use of alternatestereochemistries; combinations thereof and the like.

The terms “nucleotide”, “polynucleotide”, “oligonucleotide”, “nucleicacid”, “nucleic acid polymer” and the like, as used herein, refer todeoxyribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleosides, ribonucleosides orribonucleotides and polymers thereof in either single- ordouble-stranded form, including, but not limited to, (i) analogues ofnatural nucleotides which have similar binding properties as a referencenucleic acid and are metabolized in a manner similar to naturallyoccurring nucleotides; (ii) oligonucleotide analogs including, but arenot limited to, PNA (peptidonucleic acid), analogs of DNA used inantisense technology (phosphorothioates, phosphoroamidates, and thelike).

The term “lipid” as used herein refers to any fat-soluble (lipophilic),naturally-occurring molecule, such as fats, oils, waxes, cholesterol,sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K),monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acid, fatty acidesters, and the like. Lipids can be natural or unnatural. In one aspectthe lipid is a fatty acid. Fatty acids are saturated or unsaturated.Saturated fatty acids include, but are not limited to, lauric acid,myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid. Unsaturatedfatty acids include, but are not limited to, palmitoleic acid, oleicacid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid.

“Phospholipid” is a type of lipid that is amphipahtic. Phospholipids area class of lipids and contain a glycerol backbone, where two of thehydroxy groups of the glycerol backbone are esterified with fatty acid(saturated, unsaturated, natural, unnatural), and the third hydroxy isused to form a phosphate ester with phosphoric acid. The phosphatemoiety of the resulting phosphatidic acid is further esterified withethanolamine, choline or serine. Phospholipids are either natural orunnatural. Natural phospholipids include, but are not limited to,plasmalogen, cardiolipin, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine,glycerophospholipid, glycerophosphoric acid, lecithin, lysophosphatidicacid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine,phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate,phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol(3,5)-bisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate,phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate,phosphatidylinositol phosphate, phosphatidylmyo-inositol mannosides,phosphatidylserine, platelet-activating factor, sphingomyelin,sphingosyl phosphatide. “Unnatural phospholipids” contain a diglyceride,a phosphate group, and a simple organic molecule such as choline but areprepared by nature.

“Glycoside” as used herein refers to a group comprising any hydrophilicsugar (e.g. sucrose, maltose, glucose, glucuronic acid, and the like). Aglycoside is any sugar group bonded through a glycosidic linkage.Glycosides include natural glycosides and unnatural glycosides.Glycosides include asymmetric carbon(s) and exist in L-form or D-form.Natural glycosides preferentially exist in the D-form. Glycosidesinclude monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Examples ofmonosaccharides include, but are not limited to, trioses (e.g.glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone), tetroses (e.g. erythrose, threose,erythrulose), pentoses (e.g. arabinose, lyxose, ribose, deoxyribose,xylose, ribulose, xylulose), hexoses (allose, altrose, galactose,glucose, gulose, idose, mannose, talose, fructose, psicose, sorbose,tagatose), heptoses (mannoheptulose, sedoheptulose); octoses (e.g.octolose, 2-keto-3-deoxy-manno-octonate), nonoses (e.g. sialose).Disaccharide include, but are not limited to, sucrose, lactose, maltose,trehalose, cellobiose, kojibiose, nigerose, isomaltose, β,β-trehalose,sophorose, laminaribiose, gentiobiose, turanose, maltulose, palatinose,gentiobiulose, mannobiose, melibiose, melibiulose, rutinose, rutinulose,xylobiose. Polysaccharides include glycans. Aza-sugars are also includedwithin the term “glycoside”.

The term “polyethylene glycol” refers to linear or branched polymericpolyether polyols.

Certain Pharmaceutical Terminology

The term “patient”, “subject” or “individual” are used interchangeably.As used herein, they refer to individuals suffering from a disorder, andthe like, encompasses mammals and non-mammals. None of the terms requirethat the individual be under the care and/or supervision of a medicalprofessional. Mammals are any member of the Mammalian class, includingbut not limited to humans, non-human primates such as chimpanzees, andother apes and monkey species; farm animals such as cattle, horses,sheep, goats, swine; domestic animals such as rabbits, dogs, and cats;laboratory animals including rodents, such as rats, mice and guineapigs, and the like. Examples of non-mammals include, but are not limitedto, birds, fish and the like. In some embodiments of the methods andcompositions provided herein, the individual is a mammal. In preferredembodiments, the individual is a human.

The terms “treat,” “treating” or “treatment,” and other grammaticalequivalents as used herein, include alleviating, abating or amelioratinga disease or condition or one or more symptoms thereof, preventingadditional symptoms, ameliorating or preventing the underlying metaboliccauses of symptoms, inhibiting the disease or condition, e.g., arrestingthe development of the disease or condition, relieving the disease orcondition, causing regression of the disease or condition, relieving acondition caused by the disease or condition, or stopping the symptomsof the disease or condition, and are intended to include prophylaxis.The terms further include achieving a therapeutic benefit and/or aprophylactic benefit. By therapeutic benefit is meant eradication oramelioration of the underlying disorder being treated. Also, atherapeutic benefit is achieved with the eradication or amelioration ofone or more of the physiological symptoms associated with the underlyingdisorder such that an improvement is observed in the individual,notwithstanding that the individual is still be afflicted with theunderlying disorder. For prophylactic benefit, the compositions areadministered to an individual at risk of developing a particulardisease, or to an individual reporting one or more of the physiologicalsymptoms of a disease, even though a diagnosis of this disease has notbeen made.

The terms “administer,” “administering”, “administration,” and the like,as used herein, refer to the methods that may be used to enable deliveryof compounds or compositions to the desired site of biological action.These methods include, but are not limited to oral routes, intraduodenalroutes, parenteral injection (including intravenous, subcutaneous,intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravascular or infusion), topical andrectal administration. Those of skill in the art are familiar withadministration techniques that can be employed with the compounds andmethods described herein. In preferred embodiments, the compounds andcompositions described herein are administered orally.

The terms “effective amount”, “therapeutically effective amount” or“pharmaceutically effective amount” as used herein, refer to asufficient amount of at least one agent or compound being administeredwhich will relieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms of thedisease or condition being treated. The result can be reduction and/oralleviation of the signs, symptoms, or causes of a disease, or any otherdesired alteration of a biological system. For example, an “effectiveamount” for therapeutic uses is the amount of the composition comprisinga compound as disclosed herein required to provide a clinicallysignificant decrease in a disease. An appropriate “effective” amount maydiffer from one individual to another. An appropriate “effective” amountin any individual case may be determined using techniques, such as adose escalation study.

The term “acceptable” as used herein, with respect to a formulation,composition or ingredient, means having no persistent detrimental effecton the general health of the individual being treated.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein, refers to amaterial, such as a carrier or diluent, which does not abrogate thebiological activity or properties of the compounds described herein, andis relatively nontoxic, i.e., the material may be administered to anindividual without causing undesirable biological effects or interactingin a deleterious manner with any of the components of the composition inwhich it is contained.

The term “prodrug” as used herein, refers to a drug precursor that,following administration to an individual and subsequent absorption, isconverted to an active, or a more active species via some process, suchas conversion by a metabolic pathway. Thus, the term encompasses anyderivative of a compound, which, upon administration to a recipient, iscapable of providing, either directly or indirectly, a compound of thisinvention or a pharmaceutically active metabolite or residue thereof.Some prodrugs have a chemical group present on the prodrug that rendersit less active and/or confers solubility or some other property to thedrug. Once the chemical group has been cleaved and/or modified from theprodrug the active drug is generated. Prodrugs are often useful because,in some situations, they may be easier to administer than the parentdrug. They may, for instance, be bioavailable by oral administrationwhereas the parent is not. Particularly favored derivatives or prodrugsare those that increase the bioavailability of the compounds of thisinvention when such compounds are administered to an individual (e.g. byallowing an orally administered compound to be more readily absorbedinto the blood) or which enhance delivery of the parent compound to abiological compartment (e.g. the brain or lymphatic system).

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” as used herein, refers tosalts that retain the biological effectiveness of the free acids andbases of the specified compound and that are not biologically orotherwise undesirable. Compounds described herein may possess acidic orbasic groups and therefore may react with any of a number of inorganicor organic bases, and inorganic and organic acids, to form apharmaceutically acceptable salt. These salts can be prepared in situduring the final isolation and purification of the compounds of theinvention, or by separately reacting a purified compound in its freebase form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid, and isolating thesalt thus formed.

The term “pharmaceutical composition,” as used herein, refers to abiologically active compound, optionally mixed with at least onepharmaceutically acceptable chemical component, such as, though notlimited to carriers, stabilizers, diluents, dispersing agents,suspending agents, thickening agents, excipients and the like.

The term “carrier” as used herein, refers to relatively nontoxicchemical compounds or agents that facilitate the incorporation of acompound into cells or tissues.

The terms “pharmaceutical combination”, “administering an additionaltherapy”, “administering an additional therapeutic agent” and the like,as used herein, refer to a pharmaceutical therapy resulting from themixing or combining of more than one active ingredient and includes bothfixed and non-fixed combinations of the active ingredients.

The term “fixed combination” means that at least one of the compoundsdescribed herein, and at least one co-agent, are both administered to anindividual simultaneously in the form of a single entity or dosage. Theterm “non-fixed combination” means that at least one of the compoundsdescribed herein, and at least one co-agent, are administered to anindividual as separate entities either simultaneously, concurrently orsequentially with variable intervening time limits, wherein suchadministration provides effective levels of the two or more compounds inthe body of the individual. These also apply to cocktail therapies, e.g.the administration of three or more active ingredients.

The terms “co-administration”, “administered in combination with” andtheir grammatical equivalents or the like, as used herein, are meant toencompass administration of the selected therapeutic agents to a singleindividual, and are intended to include treatment regimens in which theagents are administered by the same or different route of administrationor at the same or different times. In some embodiments the compoundsdescribed herein will be co-administered with other agents. These termsencompass administration of two or more agents to an animal so that bothagents and/or their metabolites are present in the animal at the sametime. They include simultaneous administration in separate compositions,administration at different times in separate compositions, and/oradministration in a composition in which both agents are present. Thus,in some embodiments, the compounds of the invention and the otheragent(s) are administered in a single composition. In some embodiments,compounds of the invention and the other agent(s) are admixed in thecomposition.

The term “metabolite,” as used herein, refers to a derivative of acompound which is formed when the compound is metabolized.

The term “active metabolite,” as used herein, refers to a biologicallyactive derivative of a compound that is formed when the compound ismetabolized.

The term “metabolized,” as used herein, refers to the sum of theprocesses (including, but not limited to, hydrolysis reactions andreactions catalyzed by enzymes) by which a particular substance ischanged by an organism. Thus, enzymes may produce specific structuralalterations to a compound. For example, cytochrome P450 catalyzes avariety of oxidative and reductive reactions while uridine diphosphateglucuronyltransferases catalyze the transfer of an activatedglucuronic-acid molecule to aromatic alcohols, aliphatic alcohols,carboxylic acids, amines and free sulphydryl groups. Further informationon metabolism may be obtained from The Pharmacological Basis ofTherapeutics, 9th Edition, McGraw-Hill (1996).

Compounds

Described herein are compounds of formula (I), metabolites,pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, polymorphs, esters,tautomers or prodrugs thereof.

One embodiment provides a compound of formula (I):

-   -   wherein:    -   R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from H, halogen, C1 to C6 alkyl; or        R^(a) and R^(b), together with the carbon atom to which they are        attached, form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally        containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S;    -   M is H, C₁₋₃ alkyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation;    -   X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl);    -   X² is N or CH;    -   X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl);    -   X⁴ is N or CH; wherein at least one of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N;    -   Y¹ is N or CR¹;    -   Y² is N or CR²;    -   R¹ is H, CF₃, CH₃, OCH₃, F or Cl;    -   R² is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl,        cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃,        SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂,        CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl;    -   R³ is H, halogen, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; and    -   R⁴ is H, halogen, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or    -   R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they are        attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring,        optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N        and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an        unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In certain embodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I),wherein if X² and X⁴ are both N, then X¹ is not C(halogen).

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and X¹ is N, CH, or C(C1-C4alkyl). In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is acompound of formula (I), wherein X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and X¹ is N, CH,C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl). In still further or alternativeembodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I), wherein X² isCH, X⁴ is N, and X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl). In certainembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) orC(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and X¹ is N. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and X¹ is CH. In other embodiments,X² and X⁴ are both N, and X¹ is C(C1-C4 alkyl). In still further oralternative embodiments, X² is CH or N and X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) orC(C1-C4 alkyl). In still further or alternative embodiments, providedherein is a compound of formula (I), wherein X⁴ is CH or N, and X¹ is N,CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and X¹ isN. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and X¹ is CH. In certainembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and X¹ is C(halogen). In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and X¹ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and X¹ is N.In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and X¹ is CH. In certainembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and X¹ is C(halogen). In otherembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and X¹ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and X¹ is N.In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and X¹ is CH. In certainembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and X¹ is C(halogen). In otherembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and X¹ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² is N and X¹ is N. In someembodiments, X² is N and X¹ is CH. In certain embodiments, X² is N andX¹ is C(halogen). In other embodiments, X² is N and X¹ is C(C1-C4alkyl). In further or alternative embodiments, X² is CH and X¹ is N. Insome embodiments, X² is CH and X¹ is CH. In certain embodiments, X² isCH and X¹ is C(halogen). In other embodiments, X² is CH and X¹ isC(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X⁴ is N and X¹ is N. In someembodiments, X⁴ is N and X¹ is CH. In certain embodiments, X⁴ is N andX¹ is C(halogen). In other embodiments, X⁴ is N and X¹ is C(C1-C4alkyl). In further or alternative embodiments, X⁴ is CH and X¹ is N. Insome embodiments, X⁴ is CH and X¹ is CH. In certain embodiments, X⁴ isCH and X¹ is C(halogen). In other embodiments, X⁴ is CH and X¹ isC(C1-C4 alkyl).

In certain embodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I),wherein if X² and X⁴ are both N, then R⁴ is not Cl.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and R⁴ is H, halogen, —CN, C1to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together with the carbonatoms to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or6-membered ring, optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selectedfrom O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated,an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. In further or alternativeembodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I), wherein X²and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is H, halogen, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they areattached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring,optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S,wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated oran aromatic ring. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is H,halogen, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ togetherwith the carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. In otherembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is H, halogen, —CN, C1 to C6alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms towhich they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-memberedring, optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, Nand S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, anunsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and R⁴ is H, fluoro, iodo,bromo, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together withthe carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. In certainembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is H, fluoro, chloro, iodo,bromo, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together withthe carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. In someembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is H, fluoro, chloro, iodo,bromo, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together withthe carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. In otherembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is H, fluoro, chloro, iodo,bromo, —CN, C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together withthe carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and R⁴ is H. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and R⁴ is fluoro. In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and R⁴ is iodo. In certain, X² and X⁴are both N, and R⁴ is bromo. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N,and R⁴ is —CN. In certain specific embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N,and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkyl. In some instances, X² and X⁴ are both N, andR⁴ is C1 to C6 alkoxy. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, andR³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached forman optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containingone or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is H. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is fluoro. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is chloro. In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is iodo. In certain, X² andX⁴ are both CH, and R⁴ is bromo. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are bothCH, and R⁴ is —CN. In certain specific embodiments, X² and X⁴ are bothCH, and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkyl. In some instances, X² and X⁴ are both CH,and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkoxy. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH,and R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to which they are attachedform an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionallycontaining one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromaticring.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is H. In someembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is fluoro. In some embodiments,X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is chloro. In other embodiments X² is CH, X⁴is N, and R⁴ is iodo. In certain, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is bromo. Insome embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is —CN. In certain specificembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkyl. In someinstances, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkoxy. In otherembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and R³ and R⁴ together with the carbonatoms to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or6-membered ring, optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selectedfrom O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated,an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is H. In someembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is fluoro. In some embodiments,X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is chloro. In other embodiments X² is N, X⁴ isCH, and R⁴ is iodo. In certain, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is bromo. Insome embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is —CN. In certain specificembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkyl. In someinstances, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R⁴ is C1 to C6 alkoxy. In otherembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and R³ and R⁴ together with the carbonatoms to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or6-membered ring, optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selectedfrom O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated,an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

In certain embodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I),wherein if X² and X⁴ are both N, then Y² is not C—Cl.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is N or CR², whereinR² is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH,F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is Hor C₁₋₃ alkyl. In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein isa compound of formula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is N orCR², wherein R² is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl,cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃,CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) orSO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. In some embodiments, X² is N,X⁴ is CH, and Y² is N or CR², wherein R² is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy,SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂,CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R² is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. In otherembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is N or CR², wherein R² is H,methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl,CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN,COOH, COOR^(2′), CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R² is H or C₁₋₃alkyl.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is N. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is H. Insome embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² ismethyl. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is ethyl. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is propyl. In certain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are bothN, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is isopropyl. In some embodiments, X² andX⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is tert-butyl. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² iscyclopropyl. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is cyclobutyl. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, andY² is CR², wherein R² is CF₃. In specific embodiments, X² and X⁴ areboth N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OH. In certain embodiments, X² andX⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OCH₃. In some embodiments,X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is ethoxy. In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is SH. Insome embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isSCH₃. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², whereinR² is SCH₂CH₃. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CH₂OH. In certain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, andY² is CR², wherein R² is C(CH₃)₂OH. In further or additionalembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is F. Insome embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CN.In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isCOOH. In certain specific embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² isCR², wherein R² is COOR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CONH₂.In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isCONHR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. In certain embodiments,X² and X⁴ are both N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is SO₂NH₂.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is N. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is H. Insome embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² ismethyl. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is ethyl. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is propyl. In certain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are bothCH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is isopropyl. In some embodiments, X² andX⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is tert-butyl. In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² iscyclopropyl. In certain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² isCR², wherein R² is cyclobutyl. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are bothCH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CF₃. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OH. In some embodiments, X²and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OCH₃. In someembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is ethoxy.In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R²is SH. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is SCH₃. In certain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, andY² is CR², wherein R² is SCH₂CH₃. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ areboth CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CH₂OH. In certain embodiments, X²and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is C(CH₃)₂OH. In someinstances, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is F. Incertain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isCl. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², whereinR² is CN. In other embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is COOH. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is COOR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. Incertain embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isCONH₂. In some embodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CONHR^(2′), wherein R² is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. In otherembodiments, X² and X⁴ are both CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is SO₂NH₂.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is N. In someembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is H. In someembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is methyl. Inother embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isethyl. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R²is propyl. In certain embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is isopropyl. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is tert-butyl. In other embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ isN, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is cyclopropyl. In certain embodiments, X²is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is cyclobutyl. In someembodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CF₃. Inother embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OH.In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isOCH₃. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R²is ethoxy. In other embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is SH. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, wherein R² isSCH₃. In certain embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², whereinR² is SCH₂CH₃. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CH₂OH. In certain embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is C(CH₃)₂OH. In some instances, X² is CH, X⁴ is N,and Y² is CR², wherein R² is F. In certain embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ isN, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is Cl. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ isN, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CN. In other embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is COOH. In some embodiments, X² is CH,X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is COOR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H orC₁₋₃ alkyl. In certain embodiments X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CONH₂. In some embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² isCR², wherein R² is CONHR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. Inother embodiments, X² is CH, X⁴ is N, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isSO₂NH₂.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is N. In someembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is H. In someembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is methyl. Inother embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isethyl. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R²is propyl. In certain embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is isopropyl. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is tert-butyl. In other embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ isCH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is cyclopropyl. In certain embodiments, X²is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is cyclobutyl. In someembodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CF₃. Inother embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is OH.In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isOCH₃. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R²is ethoxy. In other embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is SH. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, wherein R² isSCH₃. In certain embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², whereinR² is SCH₂CH₃. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CH₂OH. In certain embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y²is CR², wherein R² is C(CH₃)₂OH. In some instances, X² is N, X⁴ is CH,and Y² is CR², wherein R² is F. In certain embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ isCH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is Cl. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ isCH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is CN. In other embodiments, X² is N, X⁴is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is COOH. In some embodiments, X² is N,X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² is COOR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H orC₁₋₃ alkyl. In certain embodiments X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR²,wherein R² is CONH₂. In some embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² isCR², wherein R² is CONHR^(2′), wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl. Inother embodiments, X² is N, X⁴ is CH, and Y² is CR², wherein R² isSO₂NH₂.

In certain embodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I),wherein if X¹ and X² are both N, then X³ is not C—Cl.

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X¹ and X² are both N, and X³ is N, CH, C—F, orC(C1-C4 alkyl). In further or alternative embodiments, provided hereinis a compound of formula (I), wherein X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is N,CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl). In still further or alternativeembodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I), wherein X¹ isCH, X² is N, and X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl). In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) orC(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound offormula (I), wherein X¹ and X² are both N, and X³ is N. In someembodiments, X¹ and X² are both N, and X³ is CH. In some embodiments, X¹and X² are both N, and X³ is C—F. In some embodiments, X¹ and X² areboth N, and X³ is C—Br. In some embodiments, X¹ and X² are both N, andX³ is C—I. In other embodiments, X¹ and X² are both N, and X³ is C(C1-C4alkyl). In still further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is CH or N andX³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl). In still further oralternative embodiments, provided herein is a compound of formula (I),wherein X² is CH or N, and X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ isN. In some embodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is CH. In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C(halogen). In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C—F. In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C—Cl. In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C—Br. In certainembodiments, X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C—I. In other embodiments,X¹ and X² are both CH, and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is N.In some embodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is CH. In certainembodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is C(halogen). In certainembodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is C—F. In certain embodiments,X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹ is CH, X²is N, and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³is C—I. In other embodiments, X¹ is CH, X² is N, and X³ is C(C1-C4alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is N.In some embodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is CH. In certainembodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is C(halogen). In certainembodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is C—F. In certain embodiments,X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹ is N, X²is CH, and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³is C—I. In other embodiments, X¹ is N, X² is CH, and X³ is C(C1-C4alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is N. In someembodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is CH. In certain embodiments, X¹ is N andX³ is C(halogen). In certain embodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is C—F. Incertain embodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹is N and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is C—I. Inother embodiments, X¹ is N and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is N. In someembodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is CH. In certain embodiments, X¹ is CH andX³ is C(halogen). In certain embodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is C—F. Incertain embodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹is CH and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is C—I. Inother embodiments, X¹ is CH and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is N. Insome embodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is CH. In certain embodiments,X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is C(halogen). In certain embodiments, X¹ isC(halogen) and X³ is C—F. In certain embodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) andX³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is C—Br. Incertain embodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is C—I. In otherembodiments, X¹ is C(halogen) and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is N.In some embodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is CH. In certainembodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is C(halogen). In certainembodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is C—F. In certain embodiments,X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X¹ isC(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄alkyl) and X³ is C—I. In other embodiments, X¹ is C(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and X³is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² is CH and X³ is N. In someembodiments, X² is CH and X³ is CH. In certain embodiments, X² is CH andX³ is C(halogen). In certain embodiments, X² is CH and X³ is C—F. Incertain embodiments, X² is CH and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X²is CH and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X² is CH and X³ is C—I. Inother embodiments, X² is CH and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In further or alternative embodiments, X² is N and X³ is N. In someembodiments, X² is N and X³ is CH. In certain embodiments, X² is N andX³ is C(halogen). In certain embodiments, X² is N and X³ is C—F. Incertain embodiments, X² is N and X³ is C—Cl. In certain embodiments, X²is N and X³ is C—Br. In certain embodiments, X² is N and X³ is C—I. Inother embodiments, X² is N and X³ is C(C1-C4 alkyl).

In certain embodiments, the compound of formula (I) is not1-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I), wherein one ofX¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-A), (I-B), (I-C) or (I-D):

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein two of X¹,X², X³ or X⁴ are N.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-E), (I-F) or (I-G):

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-H), (I-I) or (I-J):

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R³ is H,CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, F or Cl; and R⁴ is H, CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, F or Cl.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R³ and R⁴are both H.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R³ and R⁴together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form anoptionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing oneor two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R³ and R⁴together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form anoptionally substituted, 6-membered aromatic ring.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-K):

-   -   wherein n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and    -   each R⁵ is independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl,        isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃,        ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH,        COOR^(5′), CONH₂, CONHR^(5′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(5′) is H or        C₁₋₃ alkyl.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R^(a) is Hor CH₃; and R^(b) is H or CH₃.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R^(a) andR^(b) are both CH₃.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-L):

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I-L) wherein X¹ isCH; X² is N; X³ is CH; and X⁴ is CH.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I-L) wherein Y¹ isCR¹; and Y² is CR².

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I-L) selected from:

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) having thestructure of formula (I-M):

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I-M) wherein R¹, R³and R⁴ are all H.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R^(a) andR^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R^(a) andR^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein R^(a) andR^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a3-membered ring.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein M is H.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein M is C1-C3alkyl.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein M is apharmaceutically acceptable cation.

Another embodiment provides a compound of formula (I) wherein thepharmaceutically acceptable cation is Na⁺, Li⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺,tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylamino, dimethylamino,trimethylamino or triethylamino.

Synthetic Procedures

In another aspect, methods for synthesizing the compounds describedherein are provided. In some embodiments, the compounds described hereincan be prepared by the methods described below. The procedures andexamples below are intended to illustrate those methods. Neither theprocedures nor the examples should be construed as limiting theinvention in any way. In some embodiments, compounds described hereinare synthesized by any suitable method.

In some embodiments, the starting materials used for the synthesis ofthe compounds as described herein are obtained from commercial sources,such as Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.), Sigma Chemical Co. (St.Louis, Mo.). In some embodiments, the starting materials used for thesynthesis of the compounds as described herein are synthesized usingtechniques and materials described, for example, in March, ADVANCEDORGANIC CHEMISTRY 4^(th) Ed., (Wiley 1992); Carey and Sundberg, ADVANCEDORGANIC CHEMISTRY 4^(th) Ed., Vols. A and B (Plenum 2000, 2001), andGreen and Wuts, PROTECTIVE GROUPS IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS 3^(rd) Ed.,(Wiley 1999) (all of which are incorporated by reference for suchdisclosure). In some embodiments, the following synthetic methods areutilized.

Formation of Covalent Linkages by Reaction of an Electrophile with aNucleophile

The compounds described herein can be modified using variouselectrophiles or nucleophiles to form new functional groups orsubstituents. The table below entitled “Examples of Covalent Linkagesand Precursors Thereof” lists selected examples of covalent linkages andprecursor functional groups which yield and can be used as guidancetoward the variety of electrophiles and nucleophiles combinationsavailable. Precursor functional groups are shown as electrophilic groupsand nucleophilic groups.

Examples of Covalent Linkages and Precursors Thereof

Covalent Linkage Electrophile Nucleophile Carboxamides Activated estersAmines/anilines Carboxamides Acyl azides Amines/anilines CarboxamidesAcyl halides Amines/anilines Esters Acyl halides Alcohols/phenols EstersAcyl nitriles Alcohols/phenols Carboxamides Acyl nitrilesAmines/anilines Imines Aldehydes Amines/anilines Hydrazones Aldehydes orketones Hydrazines Oximes Aldehydes or ketones Hydroxylamines Alkylamines Alkyl halides Amines/anilines Esters Alkyl halides Carboxylicacids Thioethers Alkyl halides Thiols Ethers Alkyl halidesAlcohols/phenols Thioethers Alkyl sulfonates Thiols Esters Alkylsulfonates Carboxylic acids Ethers Alkyl sulfonates Alcohols/phenolsEsters Anhydrides Alcohols/phenols Carboxamides AnhydridesAmines/anilines Thiophenols Aryl halides Thiols Aryl amines Aryl halidesAmines Covalent Linkage Electrophile Nucleophile Thioethers AziridinesThiols Boronate esters Boronates Glycols Carboxamides Carboxylic acidsAmines/anilines Esters Carboxylic acids Alcohols Hydrazines HydrazidesCarboxylic acids N-acylureas or Carbodiimides Carboxylic acidsAnhydrides Esters Diazoalkanes Carboxylic acids Thioethers EpoxidesThiols Thioethers Haloacetamides Thiols Ammotriazines HalotriazinesAmines/anilines Triazinyl ethers Halotriazines Alcohols/phenols AmidinesImido esters Amines/anilines Ureas Isocyanates Amines/anilines UrethanesIsocyanates Alcohols/phenols Thioureas Isothiocyanates Amines/anilinesThioethers Maleimides Thiols Phosphite esters Phosphoramidites AlcoholsSilyl ethers Silyl halides Alcohols Alkyl amines Sulfonate estersAmines/anilines Thioethers Sulfonate esters Thiols Esters Sulfonateesters Carboxylic acids Ethers Sulfonate esters Alcohols SulfonamidesSulfonyl halides Amines/anilines Sulfonate esters Sulfonyl halidesPhenols/alcohols

Use of Protecting Groups

In some embodiments of the reactions described herein, it is necessaryto protect reactive functional groups, for example hydroxy, amino,imino, thio or carboxy groups, where these are desired in the finalproduct, to avoid their unwanted participation in the reactions.Protecting groups are used to block some or all reactive moieties andprevent such groups from participating in chemical reactions until theprotective group is removed. It is preferred that each protective groupbe removable by a different means. Protective groups that are cleavedunder totally disparate reaction conditions fulfill the requirement ofdifferential removal. Protective groups can be removed by acid, base,and hydrogenolysis. Groups such as trityl, dimethoxytrityl, acetal andt-butyldimethylsilyl are acid labile and, in some embodiments, are usedto protect carboxy and hydroxy reactive moieties in the presence ofamino groups protected with Cbz groups, which are removable byhydrogenolysis, and Fmoc groups, which are base labile. In someembodiments, carboxylic acid and hydroxy reactive moieties are blockedwith base labile groups such as, but not limited to, methyl, ethyl, andacetyl in the presence of amines blocked with acid labile groups such ast-butyl carbamate or with carbamates that are both acid and base stablebut hydrolytically removable.

In some embodiments, carboxylic acid and hydroxy reactive moieties arealso blocked with hydrolytically removable protective groups such as thebenzyl group, while amine groups capable of hydrogen bonding with acidsare blocked with base labile groups such as Fmoc. In some embodiments,carboxylic acid reactive moieties are protected by conversion to simpleester compounds as exemplified herein, or they are blocked withoxidatively-removable protective groups such as 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl,while co-existing amino groups are blocked with fluoride labile silylcarbamates.

Allyl blocking groups are useful in then presence of acid- andbase-protecting groups since the former are stable and can besubsequently removed by metal or pi-acid catalysts. For example, anallyl-blocked carboxylic acid can be deprotected with a Pd-catalyzedreaction in the presence of acid labile t-butyl carbamate or base-labileacetate amine protecting groups. In some embodiments, the compoundsdisclosed herein, or intermediate forms thereof, are attached to aresin. As long as the residue is attached to the resin, that functionalgroup is blocked and cannot react. Once released from the resin, thefunctional group is available to react.

In some embodiments, protecting or blocking groups are selected from:

Other protecting groups, plus a detailed description of techniquesapplicable to the creation of protecting groups and their removal aredescribed in Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis,3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1999, and Kocienski,Protective Groups, Thieme Verlag, New York, N.Y., 1994, which areincorporated herein by reference for such disclosure.

Preparing Compounds of Formula I

Described herein are processes for the preparation of compounds offormula I. In some embodiments, synthesis of the compounds of theinvention are performed following the procedures described below.Generally, the thioacetic acid sidechain is attached throughnucleophilic substitution reactions and the biaryl bond is constructedby Pd (0) mediated coupling of a boronic acid to an aryl bromide. Theresulting biaryl compound can be processed into the desired compounds offormula (I) via standard techniques. Schemes I-A-a thru Scheme I-H-aillustrate some of the synthetic approaches contemplated but are not tobe considered limiting in the scope of synthetic methods useful for thepreparation of compounds of formula I.

Similar techniques can be employed for the synthesis of the pyridinederivatives shown below.

Further Forms of Compounds of the Compounds Disclosed Herein

Isomers

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist as geometricisomers. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein possess oneor more double bonds. The compounds presented herein include all cis,trans, syn, anti, entgegen (E), and zusammen (Z) isomers as well as thecorresponding mixtures thereof. In some situations, compounds exist astautomers. The compounds described herein include all possible tautomerswithin the formulas described herein. In some situations, the compoundsdescribed herein possess one or more chiral centers and each centerexists in the R configuration, or S configuration. The compoundsdescribed herein include all diastereomeric, enantiomeric, and epimericforms as well as the corresponding mixtures thereof. In additionalembodiments of the compounds and methods provided herein, mixtures ofenantiomers and/or diastereoisomers, resulting from a single preparativestep, combination, or interconversion are useful for the applicationsdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the compounds described hereinare prepared as their individual stereoisomers by reacting a racemicmixture of the compound with an optically active resolving agent to forma pair of diastereoisomeric compounds, separating the diastereomers andrecovering the optically pure enantiomers. In some embodiments,dissociable complexes are preferred (e.g., crystalline diastereomericsalts). In some embodiments, the diastereomers have distinct physicalproperties (e.g., melting points, boiling points, solubilities,reactivity, etc.) and are separated by taking advantage of thesedissimilarities. In some embodiments, the diastereomers are separated bychiral chromatography, or preferably, by separation/resolutiontechniques based upon differences in solubility. In some embodiments,the optically pure enantiomer is then recovered, along with theresolving agent, by any practical means that would not result inracemization.

Labeled Compounds

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist in theirisotopically-labeled forms. In some embodiments, the methods disclosedherein include methods of treating diseases by administering suchisotopically-labeled compounds. In some embodiments, the methodsdisclosed herein include methods of treating diseases by administeringsuch isotopically-labeled compounds as pharmaceutical compositions.Thus, in some embodiments, the compounds disclosed herein includeisotopically-labeled compounds, which are identical to those recitedherein, but for the fact that one or more atoms are replaced by an atomhaving an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass ormass number usually found in nature. Examples of isotopes that can beincorporated into compounds of the invention include isotopes ofhydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, fluorine andchloride, such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸0, ¹⁷O, ³¹P, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F,and ³⁶Cl, respectively. Compounds described herein, and the metabolites,pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, prodrugs, solvate, hydratesor derivatives thereof which contain the aforementioned isotopes and/orother isotopes of other atoms are within the scope of this invention.Certain isotopically-labeled compounds, for example those into whichradioactive isotopes such as ³H and ¹⁴C are incorporated, are useful indrug and/or substrate tissue distribution assays. Tritiated, i. e., ³Hand carbon-14, i. e., ¹⁴C, isotopes are particularly preferred for theirease of preparation and detectability. Further, substitution with heavyisotopes such as deuterium, i. e., ²H, produces certain therapeuticadvantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for exampleincreased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements. In someembodiments, the isotopically labeled compounds, pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt, ester, prodrug, solvate, hydrate or derivative thereofis prepared by any suitable method.

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein are labeled by othermeans, including, but not limited to, the use of chromophores orfluorescent moieties, bioluminescent labels, or chemiluminescent labels.

Pharmaceutically Acceptable Salts

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist as theirpharmaceutically acceptable salts. In some embodiments, the methodsdisclosed herein include methods of treating diseases by administeringsuch pharmaceutically acceptable salts. In some embodiments, the methodsdisclosed herein include methods of treating diseases by administeringsuch pharmaceutically acceptable salts as pharmaceutical compositions.

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein possess acidic orbasic groups and therefore react with any of a number of inorganic ororganic bases, and inorganic and organic acids, to form apharmaceutically acceptable salt. In some embodiments, these salts areprepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of thecompounds of the invention, or by separately reacting a purifiedcompound in its free form with a suitable acid or base, and isolatingthe salt thus formed.

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those saltsprepared by reaction of the compounds described herein with a mineral,organic acid or inorganic base, such salts including, acetate, acrylate,adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate,bisulfite, bromide, butyrate, butyn-1,4-dioate, camphorate,camphorsulfonate, caproate, caprylate, chlorobenzoate, chloride,citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, decanoate, digluconate,dihydrogenphosphate, dinitrobenzoate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate,formate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, glycolate,hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hexyne-1,6-dioate, hydroxybenzoate,γ-hydroxybutyrate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide,2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, iodide, isobutyrate, lactate, maleate,malonate, methanesulfonate, mandelate metaphosphate, methanesulfonate,methoxybenzoate, methylbenzoate, monohydrogenphosphate,1-napthalenesulfonate, 2-napthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate,palmoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate,pivalate, propionate, pyrosulfate, pyrophosphate, propiolate, phthalate,phenylacetate, phenylbutyrate, propanesulfonate, salicylate, succinate,sulfate, sulfite, succinate, suberate, sebacate, sulfonate, tartrate,thiocyanate, tosylate undeconate and xylenesulfonate.

Further, the compounds described herein can be prepared aspharmaceutically acceptable salts formed by reacting the free base formof the compound with a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organicacid, including, but not limited to, inorganic acids such ashydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid,phosphoric acid metaphosphoric acid, and the like; and organic acidssuch as acetic acid, propionic acid, hexanoic acid,cyclopentanepropionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid,malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid,Q-toluenesulfonic acid, tartaric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, citricacid, benzoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic acid, cinnamic acid,mandelic acid, arylsulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonicacid, 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid,benzenesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid,4-methylbicyclo-[2.2.2]oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid, glucoheptonic acid,4,4′-methylenebis-(3-hydroxy-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid), 3-phenylpropionicacid, trimethylacetic acid, tertiary butylacetic acid, lauryl sulfuricacid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, hydroxynaphthoic acid, salicylicacid, stearic acid and muconic acid. In some embodiments, other acids,such as oxalic, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, areemployed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates inobtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceuticallyacceptable acid addition salts.

In some embodiments, those compounds described herein which comprise afree acid group react with a suitable base, such as the hydroxide,carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, of a pharmaceutically acceptable metalcation, with ammonia, or with a pharmaceutically acceptable organicprimary, secondary or tertiary amine Representative alkali or alkalineearth salts include the lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium,and aluminum salts and the like. Illustrative examples of bases includesodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, choline hydroxide, sodiumcarbonate, N⁺(C₁₋₄ alkyl)₄, and the like.

Representative organic amines useful for the formation of base additionsalts include ethylamine, diethylamine, ethylenediamine, ethanolamine,diethanolamine, piperazine and the like. It should be understood thatthe compounds described herein also include the quaternization of anybasic nitrogen-containing groups they contain. WIn some embodiments,water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are obtained by suchquaternization. The compounds described herein can be prepared aspharmaceutically acceptable salts formed when an acidic proton presentin the parent compound either is replaced by a metal ion, for example analkali metal ion, an alkaline earth ion, or an aluminum ion; orcoordinates with an organic base. Base addition salts can also beprepared by reacting the free acid form of the compounds describedherein with a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic base,including, but not limited to organic bases such as ethanolamine,diethanolamine, triethanolamine, tromethamine, N-methylglucamine, andthe like and inorganic bases such as aluminum hydroxide, calciumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, andthe like. In addition, the salt forms of the disclosed compounds can beprepared using salts of the starting materials or intermediates.

Solvates

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist as solvates.The invention provides for methods of treating diseases by administeringsuch solvates. The invention further provides for methods of treatingdiseases by administering such solvates as pharmaceutical compositions.

Solvates contain either stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amounts ofa solvent, and, in some embodiments, are formed during the process ofcrystallization with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water,ethanol, and the like. Hydrates are formed when the solvent is water, oralcoholates are formed when the solvent is alcohol. Solvates of thecompounds described herein can be conveniently prepared or formed duringthe processes described herein. By way of example only, hydrates of thecompounds described herein can be conveniently prepared byrecrystallization from an aqueous/organic solvent mixture, using organicsolvents including, but not limited to, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran ormethanol. In addition, the compounds provided herein can exist inunsolvated as well as solvated forms. In general, the solvated forms areconsidered equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of thecompounds and methods provided herein.

Polymorphs

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist as polymorphs.The invention provides for methods of treating diseases by administeringsuch polymorphs. The invention further provides for methods of treatingdiseases by administering such polymorphs as pharmaceuticalcompositions.

Thus, the compounds described herein include all their crystallineforms, known as polymorphs. Polymorphs include the different crystalpacking arrangements of the same elemental composition of a compound. Incertain instances, polymorphs have different X-ray diffraction patterns,infrared spectra, melting points, density, hardness, crystal shape,optical and electrical properties, stability, and solubility. In certaininstances, various factors such as the recrystallization solvent, rateof crystallization, and storage temperature cause a single crystal formto dominate.

Prodrugs

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist in prodrugform. The invention provides for methods of treating diseases byadministering such prodrugs. The invention further provides for methodsof treating diseases by administering such prodrugs as pharmaceuticalcompositions.

Prodrugs are generally drug precursors that, following administration toan individual and subsequent absorption, are converted to an active, ora more active species via some process, such as conversion by ametabolic pathway. Some prodrugs have a chemical group present on theprodrug that renders it less active and/or confers solubility or someother property to the drug. Once the chemical group has been cleavedand/or modified from the prodrug the active drug is generated. Prodrugsare often useful because, in some situations, they are easier toadminister than the parent drug. They are, for instance, bioavailable byoral administration whereas the parent is not. In certain instances, theprodrug also has improved solubility in pharmaceutical compositions overthe parent drug. An example, without limitation, of a prodrug would be acompound as described herein which is administered as an ester (the“prodrug”) to facilitate transmittal across a cell membrane where watersolubility is detrimental to mobility but which then is metabolicallyhydrolyzed to the carboxylic acid, the active entity, once inside thecell where water-solubility is beneficial. A further example of aprodrug might be a short peptide (polyamino acid) bonded to an acidgroup where the peptide is metabolized to reveal the active moiety. (Seefor example Bundgaard, “Design and Application of Prodrugs” in ATextbook of Drug Design and Development, Krosgaard-Larsen and Bundgaard,Ed., 1991, Chapter 5, 113-191, which is incorporated herein byreference).

In some embodiments, prodrugs are designed as reversible drugderivatives, for use as modifiers to enhance drug transport tosite-specific tissues. The design of prodrugs to date has been toincrease the effective water solubility of the therapeutic compound fortargeting to regions where water is the principal solvent.

Additionally, prodrug derivatives of compounds described herein can beprepared by methods described herein are otherwise known in the art (forfurther details see Saulnier et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal ChemistryLetters, 1994, 4, 1985). By way of example only, appropriate prodrugscan be prepared by reacting a non-derivatized compound with a suitablecarbamylating agent, such as, but not limited to,1,1-acyloxyalkylcarbanochloridate, para-nitrophenyl carbonate, or thelike. Prodrug forms of the herein described compounds, wherein theprodrug is metabolized in vivo to produce a derivative as set forthherein are included within the scope of the claims. Indeed, some of theherein-described compounds are prodrugs for another derivative or activecompound.

In some embodiments, prodrugs include compounds wherein an amino acidresidue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more (e. g., two, three orfour) amino acid residues is covalently joined through an amide or esterbond to a free amino, hydroxy or carboxylic acid group of compounds ofthe present invention. The amino acid residues include but are notlimited to the 20 naturally occurring amino acids and also includes4-hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, demosine, isodemosine,3-methylhistidine, norvaline, beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid,cirtulline, homocysteine, homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone.In other embodiments, prodrugs include compounds wherein a nucleic acidresidue, or an oligonucleotide of two or more (e. g., two, three orfour) nucleic acid residues is covalently joined to a compound of thepresent invention.

Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of the compounds described hereinalso include, but are not limited to, esters, carbonates,thiocarbonates, N-acyl derivatives, N-acyloxyalkyl derivatives,quaternary derivatives of tertiary amines, N-Mannich bases, Schiffbases, amino acid conjugates, phosphate esters, metal salts andsulfonate esters. Compounds having free amino, amido, hydroxy orcarboxylic groups can be converted into prodrugs. For instance, freecarboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters. In certaininstances, all of these prodrug moieties incorporate groups includingbut not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities.

Hydroxy prodrugs include esters, such as though not limited to,acyloxyalkyl (e.g. acyloxymethyl, acyloxyethyl) esters,alkoxycarbonyloxyalkyl esters, alkyl esters, aryl esters, phosphateesters, sulfonate esters, sulfate esters and disulfide containingesters; ethers, amides, carbamates, hemisuccinates,dimethylaminoacetates and phosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlinedin Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 1996, 19, 115.

Amine derived prodrugs include, but are not limited to the followinggroups and combinations of groups:

as well as sulfonamides and phosphonamides.

In certain instances, sites on any aromatic ring portions aresusceptible to various metabolic reactions, therefore incorporation ofappropriate substituents on the aromatic ring structures, can reduce,minimize or eliminate this metabolic pathway.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions. In some embodiments,the pharmaceutical compositions comprise an effective amount of acompound of formula I, or a metabolite, pharmaceutically acceptablesalt, ester, prodrug, solvate, hydrate or derivative thereof. In someembodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions comprise an effectiveamount of a compound formula I, or a metabolite, pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt, ester, prodrug, solvate, hydrate or derivative thereofand at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In someembodiments the pharmaceutical compositions are for the treatment ofdisorders. In some embodiments the pharmaceutical compositions are forthe treatment of disorders in a mammal. In some embodiments thepharmaceutical compositions are for the treatment of disorders in ahuman.

Modes of Administration

In some embodiments, the compounds and compositions described herein areadministered either alone or in combination with pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers, excipients or diluents, in a pharmaceuticalcomposition. Administration of the compounds and compositions describedherein can be effected by any method that enables delivery of thecompounds to the site of action. These methods include, though are notlimited to delivery via enteral routes (including oral, gastric orduodenal feeding tube, rectal suppository and rectal enema), parenteralroutes (injection or infusion, including intraarterial, intracardiac,intradermal, intraduodenal, intramedullary, intramuscular, intraosseous,intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intravascular, intravenous, intravitreal,epidural and subcutaneous), inhalational, transdermal, transmucosal,sublingual, buccal and topical (including epicutaneous, dermal, enema,eye drops, ear drops, intranasal, vaginal) administration, although themost suitable route may depend upon for example the condition anddisorder of the recipient. By way of example only, compounds describedherein can be administered locally to the area in need of treatment, byfor example, local infusion during surgery, topical application such ascreams or ointments, injection, catheter, or implant, said implant madefor example, out of a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material,including membranes, such as sialastic membranes, or fibers. Theadministration can also be by direct injection at the site of a diseasedtissue or organ.

In some embodiments, formulations suitable for oral administration arepresented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets eachcontaining a predetermined amount of the active ingredient; as a powderor granules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid or anon-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water liquid emulsion or awater-in-oil liquid emulsion. In some embodiments, the active ingredientis presented as a bolus, electuary or paste.

Pharmaceutical preparations which can be used orally include tablets,push-fit capsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules madeof gelatin and a plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. Tablets maybe made by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessoryingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in asuitable machine the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as apowder or granules, optionally mixed with binders, inert diluents, orlubricating, surface active or dispersing agents. Molded tablets may bemade by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compoundmoistened with an inert liquid diluent. In some embodiments, the tabletsare coated or scored and are formulated so as to provide slow orcontrolled release of the active ingredient therein. All formulationsfor oral administration should be in dosages suitable for suchadministration. The push-fit capsules can contain the active ingredientsin admixture with filler such as lactose, binders such as starches,and/or lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally,stabilizers. In soft capsules, the active compounds may be dissolved orsuspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils, liquid paraffin, orliquid polyethylene glycols. In some embodiments, stabilizers are added.Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this purpose,concentrated sugar solutions may be used, which may optionally containgum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethyleneglycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, and suitable organicsolvents or solvent mixtures. Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to thetablets or Dragee coatings for identification or to characterizedifferent combinations of active compound doses.

In some embodiments, pharmaceutical preparations are formulated forparenteral administration by injection, e.g., by bolus injection orcontinuous infusion. Formulations for injection may be presented in unitdosage form, e.g., in ampoules or in multi-dose containers, with anadded preservative. The compositions may take such forms as suspensions,solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may containformulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersingagents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dosecontainers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored inpowder form or in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring onlythe addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, saline orsterile pyrogen-free water, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneousinjection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterilepowders, granules and tablets of the kind previously described.

Formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous andnon-aqueous (oily) sterile injection solutions of the active compoundswhich may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes whichrender the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intendedrecipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which mayinclude suspending agents and thickening agents. Suitable lipophilicsolvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or syntheticfatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes.Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances which increase theviscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also containsuitable stabilizers or agents which increase the solubility of thecompounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions.

Pharmaceutical preparations may also be formulated as a depotpreparation. Such long acting formulations may be administered byimplantation (for example subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or byintramuscular injection. Thus, for example, the compounds may beformulated with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (forexample, as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, oras sparingly soluble derivatives, for example, as a sparingly solublesalt.

For buccal or sublingual administration, the compositions may take theform of tablets, lozenges, pastilles, or gels formulated in conventionalmanner Such compositions may comprise the active ingredient in aflavored basis such as sucrose and acacia or tragacanth.

Pharmaceutical preparations may also be formulated in rectalcompositions such as suppositories or retention enemas, e.g., containingconventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter, polyethyleneglycol, or other glycerides.

Pharmaceutical preparations may be administered topically, that is bynon-systemic administration. This includes the application of a compoundof the present invention externally to the epidermis or the buccalcavity and the instillation of such a compound into the ear, eye andnose, such that the compound does not significantly enter the bloodstream. In contrast, systemic administration refers to oral,intravenous, intraperitoneal and intramuscular administration.

Pharmaceutical preparations suitable for topical administration includeliquid or semi-liquid preparations suitable for penetration through theskin to the site of inflammation such as gels, liniments, lotions,creams, ointments or pastes, and drops suitable for administration tothe eye, ear or nose. The active ingredient may comprise, for topicaladministration, from 0.001% to 10% w/w, for instance from 1% to 2% byweight of the formulation. It may however comprise as much as 10% w/wbut preferably will comprise less than 5% w/w, more preferably from 0.1%to 1% w/w of the formulation.

Pharmaceutical preparations for administration by inhalation areconveniently delivered from an insufflator, nebulizer pressurized packsor other convenient means of delivering an aerosol spray. Pressurizedpacks may comprise a suitable propellant such asdichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane,dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas. In thecase of a pressurized aerosol, the dosage unit may be determined byproviding a valve to deliver a metered amount. Alternatively, foradministration by inhalation or insufflation, pharmaceuticalpreparations may take the form of a dry powder composition, for examplea powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactoseor starch. The powder composition may be presented in unit dosage form,in for example, capsules, cartridges, gelatin or blister packs fromwhich the powder may be administered with the aid of an inhalator orinsufflator.

It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularlymentioned above, the compounds and compositions described herein mayinclude other agents conventional in the art having regard to the typeof formulation in question, for example those suitable for oraladministration may include flavoring agents.

Formulations

The compounds or compositions described herein can be delivered in avesicle, such as a liposome. The compounds and pharmaceuticalcompositions described herein can also be delivered in a controlledrelease system, or a controlled release system can be placed inproximity of the therapeutic target. In one embodiment, a pump may beused.

The pharmaceutical compositions described herein can also contain theactive ingredient in a form suitable for oral use, for example, astablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersiblepowders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups orelixirs. Compositions intended for oral use are optionally preparedaccording to known method, and such compositions may contain one or moreagents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents,flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order toprovide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tabletscontain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxicpharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for themanufacture of tablets. These excipients may be, for example, inertdiluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calciumphosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents,such as microcrystalline cellulose, sodium crosscarmellose, corn starch,or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin,polyvinyl-pyrrolidone or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example,magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be un-coatedor coated by known techniques to mask the taste of the drug or delaydisintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and therebyprovide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a watersoluble taste masking material such as hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose orhydroxypropylcellulose, or a time delay material such as ethylcellulose, or cellulose acetate butyrate may be employed as appropriate.Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsuleswherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, forexample, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as softgelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with watersoluble carrier such as polyethyleneglycol or an oil medium, for examplepeanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active material in admixture withexcipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Suchexcipients are suspending agents, for example sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose,sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia;dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide,for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide withfatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensationproducts of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, forexample heptadecaethylene-oxycetanol, or condensation products ofethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and ahexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensationproducts of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acidsand hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate.The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, forexample ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloringagents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents,such as sucrose, saccharin or aspartame.

Suitable pharmaceutical carriers include inert diluents or fillers,water and various organic solvents. The pharmaceutical compositions may,if desired, contain additional ingredients such as flavorings, binders,excipients and the like. Thus for oral administration, tabletscontaining various excipients, such as citric acid may be employedtogether with various disintegrants such as starch, alginic acid andcertain complex silicates and with binding agents such as sucrose,gelatin and acacia. Additionally, lubricating agents such as magnesiumstearate, sodium lauryl sulfate and talc are often useful for tabletingpurposes. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed insoft and hard filled gelatin capsules. Preferred materials, therefore,include lactose or milk sugar and high molecular weight polyethyleneglycols. When aqueous suspensions or elixirs are desired for oraladministration the active compound therein may be combined with varioussweetening or flavoring agents, coloring matters or dyes and, ifdesired, emulsifying agents or suspending agents, together with diluentssuch as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin, or combinationsthereof.

Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredientin a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil orcoconut oil, or in mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oilysuspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hardparaffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forthabove, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oralpreparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of ananti-oxidant such as butylated hydroxyanisol or alpha-tocopherol.

Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueoussuspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient inadmixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and oneor more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents andsuspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above.Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloringagents, may also be present. These compositions may be preserved by theaddition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.

Pharmaceutical compositions may also be in the form of oil-in-wateremulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oilor arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin ormixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may benaturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean lecithin, andesters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitolanhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation productsof the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for examplepolyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also containsweetening agents, flavoring agents, preservatives and antioxidants.

Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for exampleglycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations mayalso contain a demulcent, a preservative, flavoring and coloring agentsand antioxidant.

Pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectableaqueous solution. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may beemployed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloridesolution. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterileinjectable oil-in-water microemulsion where the active ingredient isdissolved in the oily phase. For example, the active ingredient may befirst dissolved in a mixture of soybean oil and lecithin. The oilsolution then introduced into a water and glycerol mixture and processedto form a microemulsion. The injectable solutions or microemulsions maybe introduced into an individual's blood-stream by local bolusinjection. Alternatively, it may be advantageous to administer thesolution or microemulsion in such a way as to maintain a constantcirculating concentration of the instant compound. In order to maintainsuch a constant concentration, a continuous intravenous delivery devicemay be utilized. An example of such a device is the Deltec CADD-PLUS™model 5400 intravenous pump. The pharmaceutical compositions may be inthe form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension forintramuscular and subcutaneous administration. This suspension may beformulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing orwetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above.The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectablesolution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent orsolvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. In addition,sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent orsuspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employedincluding synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids suchas oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

Pharmaceutical compositions may also be administered in the form ofsuppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositionscan be prepared by mixing the active ingredient with a suitablenon-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures butliquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectumto release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, glycerinatedgelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycolsof various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethyleneglycol.

For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions,etc., containing a compound or composition of the invention can be used.As used herein, topical application can include mouth washes andgargles.

Pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in intranasal form viatopical use of suitable intranasal vehicles and delivery devices, or viatransdermal routes, using transdermal skin patches. To be administeredin the form of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administrationwill, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout thedosage regimen.

The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form andmay be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy.All methods include the step of bringing into association a compound ofthe subject invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester,prodrug or solvate thereof (“active ingredient”) with the carrier whichconstitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general, theformulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing intoassociation the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely dividedsolid carriers or both and then, if necessary, shaping the product intothe desired formulation.

Dosage Forms

The pharmaceutical composition may, for example, be in a form suitablefor oral administration as a tablet, capsule, pill, powder, sustainedrelease formulations, solution, suspension, for parenteral injection asa sterile solution, suspension or emulsion, for topical administrationas an ointment or cream or for rectal administration as a suppository.The pharmaceutical composition may be in unit dosage forms suitable forsingle administration of precise dosages. The pharmaceutical compositionmay include a conventional pharmaceutical carrier or excipient and acompound according to the invention as an active ingredient. Inaddition, it may include other medicinal or pharmaceutical agents,carriers, adjuvants, etc.

Exemplary parenteral administration forms include solutions orsuspensions of active compounds in sterile aqueous solutions, forexample, aqueous propylene glycol or dextrose solutions. Such dosageforms can be suitably buffered, if desired.

Doses

The amount of pharmaceutical composition administered will firstly bedependent on the mammal being treated. In the instances wherepharmaceutical compositions are administered to a human individual, thedaily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physicianwith the dosage generally varying according to the age, sex, diet,weight, general health and response of the individual, the severity ofthe individual's symptoms, the precise indication or condition beingtreated, the severity of the indication or condition being treated, timeof administration, route of administration, the disposition of thecomposition, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the discretion ofthe prescribing physician. Also, the route of administration may varydepending on the condition and its severity. Preferably, thepharmaceutical composition is in unit dosage form. In such form, thepreparation is subdivided into unit doses containing appropriatequantities of the active component, e.g., an effective amount to achievethe desired purpose. Determination of the proper dosage for a particularsituation is within the skill of the art. Generally, treatment isinitiated with smaller dosages which are less than the optimum dose ofthe compound. Thereafter, the dosage is increased by small amounts untilthe optimum effect under the circumstances is reached. For convenience,the total daily dosage may be divided and administered in portionsduring the day if desired. The amount and frequency of administration ofthe compounds described herein, and if applicable other therapeuticagents and/or therapies, will be regulated according to the judgment ofthe attending clinician (physician) considering such factors asdescribed above. Thus the amount of pharmaceutical composition to beadministered may vary widely. Administration may occur in an amount ofbetween about 0.001 mg/kg of body weight to about 100 mg/kg of bodyweight per day (administered in single or divided doses), morepreferably at least about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight per day. A particulartherapeutic dosage can include, e.g., from about 0.01 mg to about 7000mg of compound, and preferably includes, e.g., from about 0.05 mg toabout 2500 mg. The quantity of active compound in a unit dose ofpreparation may be varied or adjusted from about 0.1 mg to 1000 mg,preferably from about 1 mg to 300 mg, more preferably 10 mg to 200 mg,according to the particular application. In some instances, dosagelevels below the lower limit of the aforesaid range may be more thanadequate, while in other cases still larger doses may be employedwithout causing any harmful side effect, e.g. by dividing such largerdoses into several small doses for administration throughout the day.The amount administered will vary depending on the particular IC₅₀ valueof the compound used. In combinational applications in which thecompound is not the sole therapy, it may be possible to administerlesser amounts of compound and still have therapeutic or prophylacticeffect.

Combination Therapies

The compounds described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt,solvate, polymorph, ester, tautomer or prodrug thereof may beadministered as a sole therapy. The compounds described herein or apharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, ester, tautomer orprodrug thereof may also be administered in combination with anothertherapy or therapies.

For example, the therapeutic effectiveness of one of the compoundsdescribed herein may be enhanced by administration of an adjuvant (i.e.,by itself the adjuvant may only have minimal therapeutic benefit, but incombination with another therapeutic agent, the overall therapeuticbenefit to the individual is enhanced). Or, by way of example only, thebenefit experienced by an individual may be increased by administeringone of the compounds described herein with another therapeutic agent(which also includes a therapeutic regimen) that also has therapeuticbenefit. By way of example only, in a treatment for gout involvingadministration of one of the compounds described herein, increasedtherapeutic benefit may result by also providing the individual withanother therapeutic agent for gout. Or, by way of example only, if oneof the side effects experienced by an individual upon receiving one ofthe compounds described herein is nausea, then it may be appropriate toadminister an anti-nausea agent in combination with the compound. Or,the additional therapy or therapies may include, but are not limited tophysiotherapy, psychotherapy, radiation therapy, application ofcompresses to a diseased area, rest, altered diet, and the like.Regardless of the disease, disorder or condition being treated, theoverall benefit experienced by the individual may be additive of the twotherapies or therapeutic agents or the individual may experience asynergistic benefit.

In the instances where the compounds described herein are administeredin combination with other therapeutic agents, the compounds describedherein need not be administered in the same pharmaceutical compositionas other therapeutic agents, and may, because of different physical andchemical characteristics, be administered by a different route. Forexample, the compounds/compositions may be administered orally togenerate and maintain good blood levels thereof, while the othertherapeutic agent may be administered intravenously. Thus the compoundsdescribed herein may be administered concurrently (e.g., simultaneously,essentially simultaneously or within the same treatment protocol),sequentially or dosed separately to other therapeutic agents. Theinitial administration can be made according to established protocolsknown in the art, and then, based upon the observed effects, the dosage,modes of administration and times of administration can be modified bythe skilled clinician.

The particular choice of compound and other therapeutic agent willdepend upon the diagnosis of the attending physicians and their judgmentof the condition of the individual and the appropriate treatmentprotocol. In some embodiments, the additional agent is a URAT 1inhibitor, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, a xanthine dehydrogenase, axanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase(PNP) inhibitor, a uric acid transporter inhibitor, a glucosetransporter (GLUT) inhibitor, a GLUT-9 inhibitor, a solute carrierfamily 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 9 (SLC2A9) inhibitor,an organic anion transporter (OAT) inhibitor, an OAT-4 inhibitor, orcombinations thereof. In certain instances, URAT 1 is an ion exchangerthat mediates urate transportation. In certain instances, URAT Imediates urate transportation in the proximal tubule. In certaininstances, URAT I exchanges urate in a proximal tubule for lactate andnicotinate. In certain instances, xanthine oxidase oxidizes hypoxanthineto xanthine, and further to uric acid. In certain instances, xanthinedehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of xanthine, NAD⁺, and H₂O intourate, NADH, and H⁺. In some embodiments, the additional agent isallopurinol, febuxostat(2-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid),FYX-051(4-(5-pyridin-4-yl-1H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)pyridine-2-carbonitrile),probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, benzbromarone, acetaminophen, steroids,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), adrenocorticotropichormone (ACTH), colchicine, a glucorticoid, an adrogen, a cox-2inhibitor, a PPAR agonist, naproxen, sevelamer, sibutmaine,troglitazone, proglitazone, another uric acid lowering agent, losartan,fibric acid, benziodarone, salisylate, anlodipine, vitamin C, orcombinations thereof.

Diseases

Described herein are methods of treating a disease in an individualsuffering from said disease comprising administering to said individualan effective amount of a composition comprising a compound disclosedherein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, ester,tautomer or prodrug thereof.

Also described herein are methods of preventing or delaying onset of adisease in an individual at risk for developing said disease comprisingadministering to said individual an effective amount to prevent or delayonset of said disease, of a composition comprising a compound disclosedherein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, ester,tautomer or prodrug thereof.

Further described herein are methods for the prophylaxis or treatment ofany disease or disorder in which aberrant levels of uric acid plays arole including, without limitation: hyperuricemia, gout, goutyarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, kidney disease, nephrolithiasis(kidney stones), joint inflammation, deposition of urate crystals injoints, urolithiasis (formation of calculus in the urinary tract),deposition of urate crystals in renal parenchyma, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome,Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, gout flare, tophaceous gout, kidney failure,or combinations thereof in a human or other mammal. The methodsdisclosed herein extend to such a use and to the use of the compoundsfor the manufacture of a medicament for treating such diseases ordisorders. Further, the methods disclosed herein extend to theadministration to a human an effective amount of a compound disclosedherein for treating any such disease or disorder.

Individuals that can be treated with the compounds described herein, ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, prodrug, solvate, hydrate orderivative of said compounds, according to the methods of this inventioninclude, for example, individuals that have been diagnosed as havinggout, gouty arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, kidney disease,nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), joint inflammation, deposition of uratecrystals in joints, urolithiasis (formation of calculus in the urinarytract), deposition of urate crystals in renal parenchyma, Lesch-Nyhansyndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, gout flare, tophaceous gout,kidney failure, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, an individual having an aberrant uric acid level isadministered an amount of at least one compound disclosed hereinsufficient to modulate the aberrant uric acid level (e.g., to amedically-acceptable level). In some embodiments, an individual treatedwith the compounds disclosed herein displays aberrant uric acid levelswherein the uric acid levels in blood exceed a medically-accepted range(i.e., hyperuricemia). In some embodiments, an individual treated withthe compounds disclosed herein displays aberrant uric acid levelswherein uric acid levels in the blood exceed 360 μmon (6 mg/dL) for afemale individual or 400 μmon (6.8 mg/dL) for a male individual. In someembodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosed hereindisplays aberrant uric acid levels wherein uric acid levels in urineexceed a medically-accepted range (i.e., hyperuricosuria). In someembodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosed hereindisplays aberrant uric acid levels wherein uric acid levels in urineexceed 800 mg/day (in a male individual) and greater than 750 mg/day (ina female individual).

In some embodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosedherein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers from acardiovascular disorder. In some embodiments, an individual treated withthe compounds disclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels,and (2) suffers from an aneurysm; angina; atherosclerosis; a stroke;cerebrovascular disease; congestive heart failure; coronary arterydisease; and/or a myocardial infarction. In some embodiments, anindividual treated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displaysaberrant uric acid levels, and (2) displays (a) c-reactive protein (CRP)levels above about 3.0 mg/L; (b) homocysteine levels above about 15.9mmol/L; (c) LDL levels above about 160 mg/dL; (d) HDL levels below about40 mg/dL; and/or (e) serum creatinine levels above about 1.5 mg/dL.

In some embodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosedherein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers fromdiabetes. In some embodiments, an individual treated with the compoundsdisclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffersfrom Type I diabetes. In some embodiments, an individual treated withthe compounds disclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels,and (2) suffers from Type II diabetes. In some embodiments, anindividual treated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displaysaberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers from a loss of beta cells ofthe islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. In some embodiments, anindividual treated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displaysaberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers from insulin resistanceand/or reduced insulin sensitivity. In some embodiments, an individualtreated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uricacid levels, and (2) displays (a) a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126mg/dL; (b) a plasma glucose level ≥200 mg/dL two hours after a glucosetolerance test; and/or (c) symptoms of hyperglycemia and casual plasmaglucose levels ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/1).

In some embodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosedherein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers frommetabolic syndrome. In some embodiments, an individual treated with thecompounds disclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and(2) suffers from (a) diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance,impaired fasting glucose and/or insulin resistance, (b) at least two of(i) blood pressure: ≥140/90 mmHg; (ii) dyslipidaemia: triglycerides(TG): ≥1.695 mmol/L and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)≤0.9 mmol/L (male), ≤1.0 mmol/L (female); (iii) central obesity:waist:hip ratio >0.90 (male); >0.85 (female), and/or body mass index >30kg/m2; and (iv) microalbuminuria: urinary albumin excretion ratio ≥20mg/min or albumin:creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g. In some embodiments, anindividual treated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displaysaberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers from insulin resistance(i.e., the top 25% of the fasting insulin values among non-diabeticindividuals) and (b) at least two of (i) central obesity: waistcircumference ≥94 cm (male), ≥80 cm (female); (ii) dyslipidaemia: TG≥2.0 mmol/L and/or HDL-C <1.0 mmol/L or treated for dyslipidaemia; (iii)hypertension: blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or antihypertensivemedication; and (iv) fasting plasma glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L. In someembodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosed herein(1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) displays at least threeof (a) elevated waist circumference: Men ≥40 inches (men) and ≥35 inches(women); (b) elevated triglycerides: ≥150 mg/dL; (c) reduced HDL: <40mg/dL (men) and <50 mg/dL (women); (d) elevated blood pressure: ≥130/85mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension; and (e) elevated fastingglucose: ≥100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or use of medication for hyperglycemia.

In some embodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosedherein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) suffers fromkidney disease or kidney failure. In some embodiments, an individualtreated with the compounds disclosed herein (1) displays aberrant uricacid levels, and (2) displays oliguria (decreased urine production. Insome embodiments, an individual treated with the compounds disclosedherein (1) displays aberrant uric acid levels, and (2) produces lessthan 400 mL per day of urine (adults), produces less than 0.5 mL/kg/h ofurine (children), or produces less than 1 mL/kg/h of urine (infants).

Uric Acid

In certain instances, purines (adenine, guanine), derived from food ortissue turnover (cellular nucleotides undergo continuous turnover), arecatabolized in humans to their final oxidation product, uric acid. Incertain instances, guanine is oxidized to xanthine, which is turn isfurther oxidized to uric acid by the action of xanthine oxidase;adenosine is converted to inosine which is further oxidized tohypoxanthine. In certain instances, xanthine oxidase oxidizeshypoxanthine to xanthine, and further to uric acid. In certaininstances, as part of the reverse process, the enzymehypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) salvages guanineand hypoxanthine.

In certain instances, the keto form of uric acid is in equilibrium withthe enol form which loses a proton at physiological pH to form urate. Incertain instances, (e.g., under serum conditions (pH 7.40, 37° C.)),about 98% of uric acid is ionized as the monosodium urate salt. Incertain instances, urate is a strong reducing agent and potentantioxidant. In humans, about half the antioxidant capacity of plasmacomes from uric acid.

In certain instances, most uric acid dissolves in blood and passes tothe kidneys, where it is excreted by glomerular filtration and tubularsecretion. In certain instances, a substantial fraction of uric acid isreabsorbed by the renal tubules. One of the peculiar characteristics ofthe uric acid transport system is that, although the net activity oftubular function is reabsorption of uric acid, the molecule is bothsecreted and reabsorbed during its passage through the nephron. Incertain instances, reabsorption dominates in the S1 and S3 segments ofthe proximal tubule and secretion dominates in the S2 segment. Incertain instances, the bidirectional transport results in drugs thatinhibit uric acid transport decreasing, rather than increasing, theexcretion of uric acid, compromising their therapeutic usefulness. Incertain instances, normal uric acid levels in human adults (5.1+/−0.93mg/dL) are close to the limits of urate solubility (˜7 mg/dL at 37° C.),which creates a delicate physiologic urate balance. In certaininstances, the normal uric acid range for females is approximately 1mg/dL below the male range.

Hyperuricemia

In certain instances, hyperuricemia is characterized by higher thannormal blood levels of uric acid, sustained over long periods of time.In certain instances, increased blood urate levels may be due toenhanced uric acid production (˜10-20%) and/or reduced renal excretion(˜80-90%) of uric acid. In certain instances, causes of hyperuricemiamay include:

-   -   Obesity/weight gain    -   Excessive alcohol use    -   Excessive dietary purine intake (foods such as shellfish, fish        roe, scallops, peas lentils, beans and red meat, particularly        offal—brains, kidneys, tripe, liver)    -   Certain medications, including low-dose aspirin, diuretics,        niacin, cyclosporine, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, some high blood        pressure drugs and some cancer chemotherapeutics,        immunosuppressive and cytotoxic agents    -   Specific disease states, particularly those associated with a        high cell turnover rate (such as malignancy, leukemia, lymphoma        or psoriasis), and also including high blood pressure,        hemoglobin disorders, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia,        various nephropathies, myeloproliferative and        lymphoproliferative disorders, hyperparathyroidism, renal        disease, conditions associated with insulin resistance and        diabetes mellitus, and in transplant recipients, and possibly        heart disease    -   Inherited enzyme defects    -   Abnormal kidney function (e.g. increased ATP turn over, reduced        glomerular urate filtration)    -   Exposure to lead (plumbism or “saturnine gout”)

In certain instances, hyperuricemia may be asymptomatic, though isassociated with the following conditions:

-   -   Gout    -   Gouty arthritis    -   Uric acid stones in the urinary tract (urolithiasis)    -   Deposits of uric acid in the soft tissue (tophi)    -   Deposits of uric acid in the kidneys (uric acid nephropathy)    -   Impaired kidney function, possibly leading to chronic and acute        renal failure

Gout

Prevalence

The incidence of gout has increased over the past two decades and, inthe United States, affects as much as 2.7% of the population aged 20years and older, totaling over 5.1 million American adults. Gout is morecommon in men than women, (3.8% or 3.4 million men vs. 1.6% or 1.7million women), typically affecting men in their 40's and 50's (althoughgout attacks can occur after puberty which sees an increase in uric acidlevels). An increase in prevalence of gout from 2.9 to 5.2 per 1000 inthe time period 1990 to 1999 was observed, with most of the increaseoccurring in those over the age of 65. Gout attacks are more common inwomen after menopause. In certain instances, gout is one of the mostcommon forms of arthritis, accounting for approximately 5% of allarthritis cases. In certain instances, kidney failure and urolithiasisoccur in 10-18% of individuals with gout and are common sources ofmorbidity and mortality from the disease.

Leading Causes

In most cases, gout is associated with hyperuricemia. In certaininstances, individuals suffering from gout excrete approximately 40%less uric acid than nongouty individuals for any given plasma urateconcentrations. In certain instances, urate levels increase until thesaturation point is reached. In certain instances, precipitation ofurate crystals occurs when the saturation point is reached. In certaininstances, these hardened, crystallized deposits (tophi) form in thejoints and skin, causing joint inflammation (arthritis). In certaininstances, deposits are be made in the joint fluid (synovial fluid)and/or joint lining (synovial lining). Common areas for these depositsare the large toe, feet, ankles and hands (less common areas include theears and eyes). In certain instances, the skin around an affected jointbecomes red and shiny with the affected area being tender and painful totouch. In certain instances, gout attacks increase in frequency. Incertain instances, untreated acute gout attacks lead to permanent jointdamage and disability. In certain instances, tissue deposition of urateleads to: acute inflammatory arthritis, chronic arthritis, deposition ofurate crystals in renal parenchyma and urolithiasis. In certaininstances, the incidence of gouty arthritis increases 5 fold inindividuals with serum urate levels of 7 to 8.9 mg/dL and up to 50 foldin individuals with levels >9 mg/dL (530 μmol/L). In certain instances,individuals with gout develop renal insufficiency and end stage renaldisease (i.e., “gouty nephropathy”). In certain instances, goutynephropathy is characterized by a chronic interstitial nephropathy,which is promoted by medullary deposition of monosodium urate.

In certain instances, gout includes painful attacks of acute,monarticular, inflammatory arthritis, deposition of urate crystals injoints, deposition of urate crystals in renal parenchyma, urolithiasis(formation of calculus in the urinary tract), and nephrolithiasis(formation of kidney stones). In certain instances, secondary goutoccurs in individuals with cancer, particularly leukemia, and those withother blood disorders (e.g. polycythemia, myeloid metaplasia, etc).

Symptoms

In certain instances, attacks of gout develop very quickly, frequentlythe first attack occurring at night. In certain instances, symptomsinclude sudden, severe joint pain and extreme tenderness in the jointarea, joint swelling and shiny red or purple skin around the joint. Incertain instances, the attacks are infrequent lasting 5-10 days, with nosymptoms between episodes. In certain instances, attacks become morefrequent and may last longer, especially if the disorder is notcontrolled. In certain instances, episodes damage the affected joint(s)resulting in stiffness, swelling, limited motion and/or persistent mildto moderate pain.

Treatment

In certain instances, gout is treated by lowering the production of uricacid. In certain instances, gout is treated by increasing the excretionof uric acid. In certain instances, gout is treated by URAT 1, xanthineoxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, xanthine oxidoreductase, a purinenucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor, a uric acid transporter (URAT)inhibitor, a glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitor, a GLUT-9 inhibitor, asolute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 9(SLC2A9) inhibitor, an organic anion transporter (OAT) inhibitor, anOAT-4 inhibitor, or combinations thereof. In general, the goals of gouttreatment are to i) reduce the pain, swelling and duration of an acuteattack, and ii) prevent future attacks and joint damage. In certaininstances, gout attacks are treated successfully using a combination oftreatments. In certain instances, gout is one of the most treatableforms of arthritis.

i) Treating the gout attack. In certain instances, the pain and swellingassociated with an acute attack of gout can be addressed withmedications such as acetaminophen, steroids, nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) orcolchicine. In certain instances, proper medication controls gout within12 to 24 hours and treatment is stopped after a few days. In certaininstances, medication is used in conjunction with rest, increased fluidintake, ice-packs, elevation and/or protection of the affected area/s.In certain instances, the aforementioned treatments do not preventrecurrent attacks and they do not affect the underlying disorders ofabnormal uric acid metabolism.

ii) Preventing future attacks. In certain instances, reducing serum uricacid levels below the saturation level is the goal for preventingfurther gout attacks. In some cases, this is achieved by decreasing uricacid production (e.g. allopurinol), or increasing uric acid excretionwith uricosuric agents (e.g. probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, benzbromarone).

In certain instances, allopurinol inhibits uric acid formation,resulting in a reduction in both the serum and urinary uric acid levelsand becomes fully effective after 2 to 3 months.

In certain instances, allopurinol is a structural analogue ofhypoxanthine, (differing only in the transposition of the carbon andnitrogen atoms at positions 7 and 8), which inhibits the action ofxanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion ofhypoxanthine to xanthine, and xanthine to uric acid. In certaininstances, it is metabolized to the corresponding xanthine analogue,alloxanthine (oxypurinol), which is also an inhibitor of xanthineoxidase. In certain instances, alloxanthine, though more potent ininhibiting xanthine oxidase, is less pharmaceutically acceptable due tolow oral bioavailability. In certain instances, fatal reactions due tohypersensitivity, bone marrow suppression, hepatitis, and vasculitishave been reported with Allopurinol. In certain instances, the incidenceof side effects may total 20% of all individuals treated with the drug.Treatment for disorders of uric acid metabolism has not evolvedsignificantly in the following two decades since the introduction ofallopurinol.

In certain instances, Uricosuric agents (e.g., probenecid,sulfinpyrazone, and benzbromarone) increase uric acid excretion. Incertain instances, probenecid causes an increase in uric acid secretionby the renal tubules and, when used chronically, mobilizes body storesof urate. In certain instances, 25-50% of individuals treated withprobenecid fail to achieve reduction of serum uric acid levels <6 mg/dL.In certain instances, insensitivity to probenecid results from drugintolerance, concomitant salicylate ingestion, and renal impairment. Incertain instances, one-third of the individuals develop intolerance toprobenecid. In certain instances, administration of uricosuric agentsalso results in urinary calculus, gastrointestinal obstruction, jaundiceand anemia.

Plumbism or “Saturnine Gout”

In certain instances, excessive exposure to lead (lead poisoning orplumbism) results in “saturnine gout,” a lead-induced hyperuricemia dueto lead inhibition of tubular urate transport causing decreased renalexcretion of uric acid. In certain instances, more than 50% ofindividuals suffering from lead nephropathy suffer from gout. In certaininstances, acute attacks of saturnine gout occur in the knee morefrequently than the big toe. In certain instances, renal disease is morefrequent and more severe in saturnine gout than in primary gout. Incertain instances, treatment consists of excluding the individual fromfurther exposure to lead, the use of chelating agents to remove lead,and control of acute gouty arthritis and hyperuricaemia. In certaininstances, saturnine gout is characterized by less frequent attacks thanprimary gout. In certain instances, lead-associated gout occurs inpre-menopausal women, an uncommon occurrence in non lead-associatedgout.

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome

In certain instances, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS or Nyhan's syndrome)affects about one in 100,000 live births. In certain instances, LNS iscaused by a genetic deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guaninephosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT). In certain instances, LNS is anX-linked recessive disease. In certain instances, LNS is present atbirth in baby boys. In certain instances, the disorder leads to severegout, poor muscle control, and moderate mental retardation, which appearin the first year of life. In certain instances, the disorder alsoresults in self-mutilating behaviors (e.g., lip and finger biting, headbanging) beginning in the second year of life. In certain instances, thedisorder also results in gout-like swelling in the joints and severekidney problems. In certain instances, the disorder leads neurologicalsymptoms include facial grimacing, involuntary writhing, and repetitivemovements of the arms and legs similar to those seen in Huntington'sdisease. The prognosis for individuals with LNS is poor. In certaininstances, the life expectancy of an untreated individual with LNS isless than about 5 years. In certain instances, the life expectancy of atreated individual with LNS is greater than about 40 years of age.

Hyperuricemia and Other Diseases

In certain instances, hyperuricemia is found in individuals withcardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or renal disease. In certain instances,hyperuricemia is found in individuals with prehypertension,hypertension, increased proximal sodium reabsorption, microalbuminuria,proteinuria, kidney disease, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, lowhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia,hypoadiponectinemia, peripheral, carotid and coronary artery disease,atherosclerosis, congenative heart failure, stroke, tumor lysissyndrome, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, elevated reninlevels, elevated endothelin levels, and/or elevated C-reactive proteinlevels. In certain instances, hyperuricemia is found in individuals withobesity (e.g., central obesity), high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia,and/or impaired fasting glucose. In certain instances, hyperuricemia isfound in individuals with metabolic syndrome. In certain instances,gouty arthritis is indicative of an increased risk of acute myocardialinfarction. In some embodiments, administration of the compoundsdescribed herein to an individual are useful for decreasing thelikelihood of a clinical event associated with a disease or conditionlinked to hyperuricemia, including, but not limited to, prehypertension,hypertension, increased proximal sodium reabsorption, microalbuminuria,proteinuria, kidney disease, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, lowhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia,hypoadiponectinemia, peripheral, carotid and coronary artery disease,atherosclerosis, congenative heart failure, stroke, tumor lysissyndrome, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, elevated reninlevels, elevated endothelin levels, and/or elevated C-reactive proteinlevels.

One embodiment provides a method of treating or preventing a conditioncharacterized by abnormal tissue or organ levels of uric acid in anindividual comprising administering to the individual an effectiveamount of a compound of formula (I). Another embodiment provides themethod wherein the condition is gout, a recurrent gout attack, goutyarthritis, hyperuricaemia, hypertension, a cardiovascular disease,coronary heart disease, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmillersyndrome, kidney disease, kidney stones, kidney failure, jointinflammation, arthritis, urolithiasis, plumbism, hyperparathyroidism,psoriasis, sarcoidosis, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase(HPRT) deficiency or a combination thereof. Another embodiment providesthe method wherein the condition is gout.

Another embodiment provides the method further comprising administeringa second agent effective for the treatment of the gout. Anotherembodiment provides the method wherein the second agent is a URAT 1inhibitor, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, a xanthine dehydrogenase, axanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, or combinations thereof. Anotherembodiment provides the method wherein the second agent is allopurinol,febuxostat, FYX-051, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the compounds described herein are administered toan individual suffering from a disease or condition requiring treatmentwith a compound that is a diuretic. In some embodiments, the compoundsdescribed herein are administered to an individual suffering from adisease or condition requiring treatment with a compound that is adiuretic, wherein the diuretic causes renal retention of urate. In someembodiments, the disease or condition is congestive heart failure oressential hypertension.

In some embodiments, administration of the compounds described herein toan individual are useful for improving motility or improving quality oflife.

In some embodiments, administration of the compounds described herein toan individual is useful for treating or decreasing the side effects ofcancer treatment.

In some embodiments, administration of the compounds described herein toan individual is useful for decreasing kidney toxicity of cis-platin.

Kits

The compounds, compositions and methods described herein provide kitsfor the treatment of disorders, such as the ones described herein. Thesekits comprise a compound, compounds or compositions described herein ina container and, optionally, instructions teaching the use of the kitaccording to the various methods and approaches described herein. Suchkits may also include information, such as scientific literaturereferences, package insert materials, clinical trial results, and/orsummaries of these and the like, which indicate or establish theactivities and/or advantages of the composition, and/or which describedosing, administration, side effects, drug interactions, or otherinformation useful to the health care provider. Such information may bebased on the results of various studies, for example, studies usingexperimental animals involving in vivo models and studies based on humanclinical trials. Kits described herein can be provided, marketed and/orpromoted to health providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists,formulary officials, and the like. Kits may also, in some embodiments,be marketed directly to the consumer.

The compounds described herein can be utilized for diagnostics and asresearch reagents. For example, the compounds described herein, eitheralone or in combination with other compounds, can be used as tools indifferential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expressionpatterns of genes expressed within cells and tissues. As onenon-limiting example, expression patterns within cells or tissuestreated with one or more compounds are compared to control cells ortissues not treated with compounds and the patterns produced areanalyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, forexample, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellularlocalization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genesexamined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulatedcells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affectexpression patterns.

Besides being useful for human treatment, the compounds and formulationsof the present invention are also useful for veterinary treatment ofcompanion animals, exotic animals and farm animals, including mammals,rodents, and the like. More preferred animals include horses, dogs, andcats.

The examples and preparations provided below further illustrate andexemplify the compounds of the present invention and methods ofpreparing such compounds. It is to be understood that the scope of thepresent invention is not limited in any way by the scope of thefollowing examples and preparations. In the following examples moleculeswith a single chiral center, unless otherwise noted, exist as a racemicmixture. Those molecules with two or more chiral centers, unlessotherwise noted, exist as a racemic mixture of diastereomers. Singleenantiomers/diastereomers may be obtained by methods known to thoseskilled in the art.

EXAMPLES I. Chemical Syntheses Example 1: Preparation of Compounds ofFormula (I-A)

Compounds of formula (I-A) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 1A: 2-(3-(4-Cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

Step A: 4-(3-Fluoropyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile

A mixture of 2-bromo-3-fluoropyridine (1.05 g, 6.0 mmol),4-cyanophenylboronic acid (0.882 g, 6.0 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.138 g, 0.12mmol), and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 6 mL), in dioxane (6mL) was degassed for 15 minutes. The mixture was sealed, heated to 80°C. for 12 hours, washed with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, concentrated andpurified by chromatography to yield 4-(3-fluoropyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile(1.16 g, 89%).

Step B: 4-(3-Mercaptopyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile

A mixture of 4-(3-fluoropyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile (0.198 g, 1.0 mmol),Na₂S (0.39 g, 5 mmol), N-methylmorpholine (0.5 mL) and DMF (2 mL) washeated to 160° C. under microwave irradiation for 30 minutes. After thereaction was completed, the mixture was washed with water and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄, concentratedand purified by chromatography to yield4-(3-mercaptopyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile (0.18 g, 85%).

Step C: Ethyl 2-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

A mixture of 4-(3-mercaptopyridin-2-yl)benzonitrile (0.18 g, 0.85 mmol),ethyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate (0.195 g, 1 mmol), and K₂CO₃ (0.138 g,1.0 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours.After the reaction was completed, the reaction mixture was washed withwater and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried overMgSO₄, concentrated and purified by chromatography to yield ethyl2-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (0.137 g, 49%).

Step D: 2-(2-(4-Cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

A mixture of ethyl2-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (0.137 g, 0.42mmol), aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (1M, 1 mL) and methanol (2 mL)was stirred at 60° C. for 12 hours. The reaction mixture wasconcentrated to remove methanol, acidified and filtered to obtain2-(2-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid as a whitepowder (0.121 g, 96%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 12.72 (bs, COOH), 8.71 ((d, J=3.2 Hz,1H), 8.04 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.77 (d, J=8.4 Hz,2H), 8.04 (dd, J=6.4, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 1.22 (s, 6H).

m/z (M+1) 298.99

Examples 1B-1V

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 1A.

Example Structure 1B

1C

1D

1E

1F

1G

1H

1I

1J

1K

1L

1M

1N

1O

1P

1Q

1R

1S

1T

1U

1V

1W

Example 2: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-B)

Compounds of formula (I-B) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 2A: 2-(3-(4-Cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

Step A: 3-Bromopyridine-4-thiol

A mixture of 3-bromo-4-chloropyridine (10.0 g, 52 mmol) and sodiumsulfide (12.2 g, 156 mmol) in DMF (100 mL) was stirred at 130° C. for 2hours. While the reaction was cooled in an ice water bath, aqueous HCl(6N, 45 mL) was added drop wise with rigorous stirring. The resultingyellow paste was concentrated using rotary evaporation on a water bath(80° C.) to dryness. The resulting yellow solid was extracted withmethanol (4×50 mL), and the combined extracts concentrated to give ayellow solid (9.5 g, 96%).

Step B: Ethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

A mixture of 3-bromopyridine-4-thiol (step A, 4.75 g, 25 mmol), ethyl2-bromoisobutyrate (9.75 g, 50 mmol), and sodium carbonate (7.95 g, 75mmol) in DMF (50 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour. The reactionmixture was partitioned between water (100 mL) and ethyl acetate (100mL). The organic layer was washed with water (2×100 mL) and saturatedsodium chloride (100 mL). The aqueous washes were back extracted withethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The combined organic layers were dried oversodium sulfate, concentrated, and purified by normal phasechromatography (a gradient of 0-25% ethyl acetate in hexane) to yieldethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate as a pale yellowoil (6.6 g, 88%).

Step C: Ethyl 2-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

To a mixture of 4-cyanophenylboronic acid (49 mg, 0.33 mmol) andPd(dppf)Cl₂ (9 mg, 5% mole) were added a solution of freshly purifiedethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate from (step B, 67mg, 0.22 mmol) in THF (1 mL), acetonitrile (0.5 mL), and sodiumcarbonate (1M aqueous, 0.5 mL). The resulting mixture was degassed bynitrogen bubbling for 1 minute, and then heated to 150° C. for 30minutes under microwave irradiation. The mixture was loaded on to a 5 gISCO loading cartridge and eluded with a gradient of 0-100% ethylacetate in hexane on a 12 g ISCO column to yield ethyl2-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (0.049 g, 70%).

Step D: 2-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

To ethyl 2-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (stepC, 49 mg, 0.15 mmol) was added methanol (0.8 mL), and sodium hydroxide(2 M aqueous, 0.8 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at ambienttemperature for 2 hours. The volume was reduced (˜0.8 mL) by rotaryevaporation. To the residue was added HCl (6 N aqueous) with stirringuntil pH reached 6, resulting in the formation of a white precipitate,which was isolated by filtration. The solid was washed with water (6×1mL), air dried for 1 hour and dried under vacuum (P₂O₅) overnight toyield a white powder (28 mg, 64%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 1.46 (s, 6H) 7.44 (d, J=5.39 Hz, 1H)7.60-7.70 (m, 2H) 7.98 (d, J=8.29 Hz, 2H) 8.44 (s, 1H) 8.56 (d, J=5.18Hz, 1H) 13.14 (br. s., 1H).

MS (m/z), M+1, 299.

Examples 2B-2JJJ

The compounds in the table below were prepared according to theprocedure described in example 2A.

MS ¹H NMR δ ppm (m/z) Example Structure (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) M + 1 2B

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 8.77 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 8.61 (s,1H), 8.37 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.27 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (dd, J =7.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.68-7.80 (m, 3H), 7.61 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (s,2H). 321.07 2C

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 13.22 (bs, 1H), 8.61 (s, 1H),8.34-8.39 (m, 2H), 8.02 (dd, J = 7.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.74-7.79 (m, 2H),7.60 (dd, J = 7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.44- 7.53 (m, 2H), 1.61 (s, 3H), 1.54(s, 3H). 349.14 2D

0.37-0.49 (m, 2 H) 0.49-0.60 (m, 2 H) 1.50 (s, 6 H) 2.12-2.27 (m, 1 H)7.50 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.68 (d, J = 8.09 Hz, 2 H) 7.93 (d, J = 8.29Hz, 2 H) 8.08 (br. s., 1 H) 8.51 (s, 1 H) 8.60 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 3932E

1.58 (s, 6 H) 4.32 (s, 3 H) 6.82-6.87 (m, 1 H) 6.89 (d, J = 2.07 Hz, 1H) 6.91-6.96 (m, 1 H) 7.38-7.41 (m, 1 H) 7.41-7.42 (m, 1 H) 7.54 (d, J =5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.22 (s, 1 H) 8.31 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 318 2F

1.46 (s, 6 H) 7.51 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.66- 7.77 (m, 1 H) 7.87 (ddd,J = 8.34, 6.89, 1.55 Hz, 1 H) 8.11 (t, J = 8.60 Hz, 2 H) 8.46 (d, J =2.07 Hz, 1 H) 8.55-8.65 (m, 2 H) 8.94 (d, J = 2.28 Hz, 1 H) 13.16 (s, 1H) 325 2G

1.56 (s, 6 H) 7.21 (dd, J = 8.81, 2.38 Hz, 1 H) 7.31 (d, J = 2.49 Hz, 1H) 7.48 (dd, J = 8.40, 1.76 Hz, 1 H) 7.60 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.80 (s,1 H) 7.85 (t, J = 8.29 Hz, 2 H) 8.37 (s, 1 H) 8.38 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H)313 2H

1.40 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 6 H) 7.49-7.55 (m, 2 H) 7.58 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H)7.72 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.88 (dd, J = 8.50, 7.26 Hz, 1 H) 8.14 (d, J= 8.50 Hz, 1 H) 8.36 (s, 1 H) 8.58 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.97 (dd, J =4.15, 1.66 Hz, 1 H) 325 2I

1.58 (s, 6 H) 4.29-4.35 (m, 3 H) 6.81-6.87 (m, 1 H) 6.89 (d, J = 2.07Hz, 1 H) 6.91-6.97 (m, 1 H) 7.54 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.22 (s, 1 H)8.31 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 332 2J

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 13.30 (bs, 1H), 8.74 (d, J = 6.0 Hz,1H), 8.58 (s, 1H), 8.37 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.28 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H),7.92 (dd, J = 7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71- 7.77 (m, 2H), 7.60 (d, J = 7.6,Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 2.78-2.92 (m, 2H), 2.14- 2.22 (m,2H), 1.92-2.04 (m, 2H). 360.93 2K

1.31 (t, J = 7.57 Hz, 3 H) 1.57 (s, 6 H) 2.74 (q, J = 7.53 Hz, 2 H)7.28-7.36 (m, 4 H) 7.57 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 8.25 (br. s., 1 H) 8.34(d, J = 4.35 Hz, 1 H) 301 2L

1.44-1.56 (m, 6 H) 7.35-7.39 (m, 1 H) 7.73-7.79 (m, 2 H) 7.79-7.86 (m, 1H) 8.25 (d, J = 7.05 Hz, 2 H) 8.42 (d, J = 6.01 Hz, 1 H) 8.45-8.50 (m, 1H) 9.35 (s, 1 H) 325 2M

1.58 (s, 6 H) 7.58 (dd, J = 7.57, 5.08 Hz, 1 H) 7.68 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1H) 7.98 (dt, J = 7.88, 1.87 Hz, 1 H) 8.24 (s, 1 H) 8.36 (d, J = 5.39 Hz,1 H) 8.56-8.65 (m, 2 H) 275 2N

1.58 (s, 6 H) 7.60-7.70 (m, 3 H) 7.79 (d, J = 8.09 Hz, 2 H) 8.22 (s, 1H) 8.35 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 6 H) 342 2O

1.42 (s, 6 H) 7.42 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.54 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.77(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.19 (s, 1 H) 8.31 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 308 2P

1.57 (s, 6 H) 7.36-7.44 (m, 2 H) 7.45-7.54 (m, 2 H) 7.60 (d, J = 5.39Hz, 1 H) 8.27 (s, 1 H) 8.37 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 308 2Q

1.57 (s, 6 H) 2.56 (s, 3 H) 7.30-7.40 (m, 4 H) 7.59 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1H) 8.24 (s, 1 H) 8.33 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 320 2R

1.56 (s, 6 H) 7.35-7.44 (m, 2 H) 7.44-7.52 (m, 3 H) 7.56 (d, J = 5.60Hz, 1 H) 8.31 (s, 1 H) 8.39 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 274 2S

1.58 (s, 6 H) 7.37 (dd, J = 8.29, 2.07 Hz, 1 H) 7.57-7.67 (m, 3 H) 8.27(s, 1 H) 8.38 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 342 2T

1.56 (s, 6 H) 4.00 (s, 3 H) 6.93 (dd, J = 8.50, 0.62 Hz, 1 H) 7.58 (d, J= 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 7.77 (dd, J = 8.71, 2.49 Hz, 1 H) 8.13-8.19 (m, 1 H)8.37 (s, 1 H) 8.43 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 305 2U

1.51 (d, J = 8.71 Hz, 6 H) 7.48 (d, J = 7.67 Hz, 1 H) 7.68 (d, J = 5.60Hz, 1 H) 7.78-7.83 (m, 2 H) 8.22-8.30 (m, 1 H) 8.37 (s, 1 H) 8.41 (s, 1H) 8.57 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 9.38 (s, 1 H) 325 2V

1.57 (s, 6 H) 3.94-4.00 (m, 3 H) 7.20 (dd, J = 9.02, 2.59 Hz, 1 H) 7.32(d, J = 2.49 Hz, 1 H) 7.51 (dd, J = 8.40, 1.76 Hz, 1 H) 7.65 (d, J =5.60 Hz, 1 H) 7.78-7.91 (m, 3 H) 8.28 (s, 1 H) 8.32 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1H) 354 2W

1.59 (s, 6 H) 7.24 (ddd, J = 6.27, 4.20, 1.97 Hz, 1 H) 7.32-7.46 (m, 2H) 7.62 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 8.20 (s, 1 H) 8.32 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H)310 2X

1.46-1.57 (m, 6 H) 7.31 (dd, J = 10.37, 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.35-7.46 (m, 2 H)7.49-7.58 (m, 1 H) 7.59-7.68 (m, 1 H) 7.74 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H)8.14-8.25 (m, 2 H) 8.43 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 342 2Y

1.51 (t, J = 6.95 Hz, 3 H) 1.56 (s, 6 H) 4.22 (q, J = 6.98 Hz, 2 H) 7.21(dd, J = 8.81, 2.38 Hz, 1 H) 7.31 (d, J = 2.49 Hz, 1 H) 7.48 (dd, J =8.40, 1.76 Hz, 1 H) 7.60 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.80 (s, 1 H) 7.85 (t, J= 8.29 Hz, 2 H) 8.34- 8.42 (m, 2 H) 368 2Z

1.58 (s, 6 H) 7.52-7.61 (m, 3 H) 7.68 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 7.88-7.99(m, 4 H) 8.27 (s, 1 H) 8.32 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 324 2AA

1.51 (d, J = 15.76 Hz, 6 H) 7.30 (d, J = 7.46 Hz, 1 H) 7.40 (d, J = 8.29Hz, 1 H) 7.54 (td, J = 7.62, 1.14 Hz, 1 H) 7.64-7.72 (m, 2 H) 7.94 (d, J= 7.67 Hz, 1 H) 8.30 (s, 1 H) 8.35 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 1 H) 8.50 (d, J =5.60 Hz, 1 H) 402, 404 2BB

1.50 (d, J = 17.41 Hz, 6 H) 2.78 (s, 3 H) 7.27 (d, J = 7.26 Hz, 1 H)7.32-7.40 (m, 1 H) 7.40- 7.48 (m, 2 H) 7.58 (t, J = 7.15 Hz, 1 H) 7.67(d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 8.13 (d, J = 8.29 Hz, 1 H) 8.25 (s, 1 H) 8.45 (d,J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 338 2CC

1.57 (s, 6 H) 7.57-7.67 (m, 3 H) 7.97-8.06 (m, 2 H) 8.28 (s, 1 H) 8.39(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 353 2DD

1.41-1.52 (m, 6 H) 7.30-7.46 (m, 3 H) 7.45-7.60 (m, 2 H) 7.70 (d, J =5.60 Hz, 1 H) 7.95 (t, J = 7.57 Hz, 2 H) 8.20 (s, 1 H) 8.40 (d, J = 5.60Hz, 1 H) 324 2EE

1.69 (s, 6 H) 7.70-7.78 (m, 1 H) 7.79-7.87 (m, 2 H) 7.91 (d, J = 2.07Hz, 1 H) 8.52 (s, 1 H) 8.59 (d, J = 6.22 Hz, 1 H) 376 2FF

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 8.81 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 8.66 (s,1H), 8.33 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.85- 7.98 (m,2H), 7.79 (dd, J = 7.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J = 7.2, Hz, 1H), 7.48 (d,J = 7.2 Hz, 1H). 356.88 2GG

1.48 (s, 6 H) 7.30-7.37 (m, 2 H) 7.39 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 7.42-7.49(m, 2 H) 8.38 (s, 1 H) 8.50 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 292 2HH

1.49 (s, 6 H) 3.18 (s, 3 H) 7.57 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.60 (s, 1 H)8.64 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 8.72 (s, 2 H) 306 2II

1.37 (d, J = 4.98 Hz, 6 H) 7.38-7.45 (m, 2 H) 7.59 (ddd, J = 8.29, 6.95,1.14 Hz, 1 H) 7.82 (ddd, J = 8.34, 6.89, 1.35 Hz, 1 H) 7.91 (d, J = 5.39Hz, 1 H) 8.13 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 8.24 (s, 1 H) 8.48 (d, J = 5.39 Hz,1 H) 9.00 (d, J = 4.35 Hz, 1 H) 325 2JJ

1.49 (s, 6 H) 4.59 (s, 2 H) 7.33-7.37 (m, 2 H) 7.38 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1H) 7.40-7.46 (m, 2 H) 8.34 (s, 1 H) 8.47 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 304 2KK

1.54 (s, 6 H) 7.48-7.57 (m, 4 H) 8.02 (d, J = 8.29 Hz, 2 H) 8.18 (br.s., 1 H) 8.50 (s, 1 H) 8.62 (d, J = 5.60 Hz, 1 H) 317 2LL

1.47 (s, 6 H) 7.50 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.55 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.96(d, J = 6.43 Hz, 1 H) 8.50 (s, 1 H) 8.54-8.61 (m, 2 H) 289 2MM

1.59 (s, 6 H) 3.97 (s, 3 H) 7.72 (d, J = 6.01 Hz, 1 H) 7.84 (d, J = 1.66Hz, 1 H) 8.43 (d, J = 1.66 Hz, 1 H) 8.57 (d, J = 2.70 Hz, 1 H) 8.71 (s,1 H) 8.77 (d, J = 6.01 Hz, 1 H) 305 2NN

1.51 (d, J = 4.98 Hz, 6 H) 2.10 (s, 3 H) 7.35 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.43(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.78 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.87 (s, 1 H) 8.27 (s,1 H) 8.55 (d, J = 4.77 Hz, 1 H) 313 2OO

1.43 (s, 6 H) 2.97 (s, 6 H) 6.80 (d, J = 8.71 Hz, 2 H) 7.22 (d, J = 8.71Hz, 2 H) 7.62 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 8.17 (s, 1 H) 8.25 (d, J = 5.39 Hz,1 H) 317 2PP

1.47 (s, 6 H) 7.43-7.50 (m, 3 H) 8.45 (s, 1 H) 8.57 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1H) 8.70 (d, J = 5.80 Hz, 2 H) 275 2RR

1.48 (s, 6 H) 4.15 (s, 2 H) 7.40 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.42-7.45 (m, 2H) 7.45-7.50 (m, 2 H) 8.36 (s, 1 H) 8.49 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 313 2SS

1.50 (s, 6 H) 2.57 (s, 2 H) 6.98 (br. s., 1 H) 7.31-7.40 (m, 5 H) 7.59(br. s., 1 H) 8.34 (s, 1 H) 8.47 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 331 2TT

1.56 (s, 6 H) 7.61 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.66- 7.72 (m, 1 H) 7.72-7.78(m, 1 H) 7.80- 7.88 (m, 2 H) 8.37 (s, 1 H) 8.46 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H)299 2UU

1.47 (s, 6 H) 7.37 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.43 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.70(d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 8.37 (s, 1 H) 8.49 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 352 2VV

1.49 (s, 6 H) 7.31 (dd, J = 7.88, 1.45 Hz, 1 H) 7.35-7.41 (m, 1 H) 7.43(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.71-7.79 (m, 2 H) 7.87 (br. s., 1 H) 8.42 (s, 1H) 8.54 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 335 2WW

1.51 (d, J = 5.80 Hz, 6 H) 2.10 (s, 3 H) 7.20 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H) 7.39(d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 7.44 (s, 1 H) 7.77 (dd, J = 7.88, 1.24 Hz, 1 H)7.84 (s, 1 H) 8.05 (s, 5 H) 8.25 (br. s., 1 H) 8.51 (br. s., 1 H) 3312XX

1.47 (s, 6 H) 7.05 (d, J = 8.71 Hz, 2 H) 7.33 (d, J = 8.71 Hz, 2 H) 7.40(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.31 (s, 1 H) 8.42 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 304 2YY

1.43 (s, 6 H) 5.30 (br. s., 2 H) 6.63 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.04 (d, J =8.29 Hz, 2 H) 7.67 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.11 (s, 1 H) 8.19 (d, J = 5.39Hz, 6 H) 289 2ZZ

1.49 (s, 6 H) 3.99 (s, 3 H) 7.16 (dd, J = 7.88, 1.45 Hz, 1 H) 7.30 (d, J= 1.04 Hz, 1 H) 7.44 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.84 (d, J = 7.88 Hz, 1 H)8.48 (s, 1 H) 8.56 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 329 2AAA

1.49 (s, 6 H) 6.87 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.21 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.33(d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 8.32 (s, 1 H) 8.42 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 9.70 (s,1 H) 13.14 (br. s., 1 H) 290 2BBB

1.45 (s, 6 H) 7.46-7.55 (m, 2 H) 7.69 (dd, J = 10.26, 1.14 Hz, 1 H) 8.06(t, J = 7.46 Hz, 1 H) 8.45 (s, 1 H) 8.56 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 317 2CCC

1.48 (s, 6 H) 2.39 (s, 3 H) 7.25-7.33 (m, 4 H) 7.36 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1H) 8.34 (s, 1 H) 8.46 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 288 2DDD

1.43 (s, 6 H) 2.10 (s, 3 H) 7.31 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.68 (d, J = 8.71Hz, 3 H) 8.19 (s, 1 H) 8.29 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 10.22 (s, 1 H) 3312EEE

1.44 (s, 6 H) 3.33 (s, 3 H) 7.69 (d, J = 8.50 Hz, 2 H) 7.73 (d, J = 5.39Hz, 1 H) 8.03 (d, J = 8.29 Hz, 2 H) 8.27 (s, 1 H) 8.40 (d, J = 5.39 Hz,1 H) 352 2FFF

1.46 (s, 6 H) 7.47 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 7.63 (dd, J = 7.98, 1.55 Hz, 1H) 7.87 (d, J = 1.45 Hz, 1 H) 8.11 (d, J = 8.09 Hz, 1 H) 8.48 (s, 1 H)8.59 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 333 2GGG

1.48 (s, 6 H) 7.21-7.26 (m, 2 H) 7.35-7.41 (m, 2 H) 7.76 (d, J = 5.39Hz, 1 H) 8.21 (s, 1 H) 8.28 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 306 2HHH

1.43 (s, 6 H) 7.48-7.54 (m, 2 H) 7.75-7.81 (m, 1 H) 7.88 (dd, J = 7.88,1.24 Hz, 1 H) 8.43 (s, 1 H) 8.57 (d, J = 5.18 Hz, 1 H) 336 2III

1.42 (s, 6 H) 7.58 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 7.64 (t, J = 7.57 Hz, 1 H) 7.85(dd, J = 7.88, 1.24 Hz, 1 H) 8.00-8.07 (m, 1 H) 8.42 (s, 1 H) 8.57 (d, J= 4.98 Hz, 1 H) 317 2JJJ

1.44 (s, 6 H) 7.44-7.53 (m, 2 H) 7.64 (s, 1 H) 7.75-7.86 (m, 2 H) 8.18(br. s., 1 H) 8.44 (s, 1 H) 8.58 (d, J = 5.39 Hz, 1 H) 335

Example 3: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-C)

Compounds of formula (I-C) may be prepared according to the generalscheme shown below:

Example 3A: 2-(4-(4-Cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

Step A: 4-(3-Fluoropyridin-4-yl)benzonitrile

4-Cyanophenylboronic acid (1.77 g, 12 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (400 mg, 5%mol) were weighed into a 20 mL microwave reaction vial. A solution of4-chloro-3-fluoropyridine (1.31 g, 10 mmol) in THF (6 mL), acetonitrile(6 mL), and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 0.8 mL) was added.The resulting suspension was degassed by bubbling N₂ for 1 min. Themixture was then heated to 150° C. for 30 minutes under microwaveirradiation. The mixture was loaded on to a 5 g ISCO loading cartridgeand eluded with a gradient of 0-80% ethyl acetate in hexane on a 40 gISCO column to yield ethyl2-(4-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate as a whitepowder (1.08 g, 54%).

Step B: 4-(3-Mercaptopyridin-4-yl)benzonitrile

A mixture of 4-(3-fluoropyridin-4-yl)benzonitrile (1.08 g, 5.4 mmol) andsodium sulfide (0.84 g, 10.8 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was stirred at 130° C.for 0.5 hours. While the reaction was cooled in ice water bath, aqueousHCl (6N, 2.5 mL) was added drop wise with rigorous stirring. Theresulting yellow paste was concentrated using rotary evaporation on awater bath (80° C.) to dryness. The resulting yellow solid was extractedwith methanol (4×20 mL). The combined extracts were concentrated todryness to give a yellow solid (1.1 g, 96%).

Step C: Ethyl 2-(4-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

A mixture of 4-(3-mercaptopyridin-4-yl)benzonitrile (1.1 g, 5.2 mmol),ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (2.0 g, 10.4 mmol), and sodium carbonate (1.6g, 15.5 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour. Thereaction mixture was partitioned between water (20 mL) and ethyl acetate(20 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (2×20 mL) and saturatedsodium chloride solution (20 mL). The aqueous washes were back extractedwith ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). The combined organic extracts were driedover sodium sulfate, concentrated, and purified by normal phasechromatography using a gradient of 0-25% ethyl acetate in hexane toyield ethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate as a paleyellow oil (0.25 g, 15%).

Step D: 2-(4-(4-Cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

Methanol (1 mL) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (2M, 1 mL) wereadded to ethyl 2-(4-(4-cyanophenyl)pyridin-3-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate(0.25 g, 0.77 mmol) and stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. Thevolume was reduced (˜1 mL) by rotary evaporation and the resultingresidue treated with aqueous HCl (6N) with stirring to pH 6, resultingin formation of a white precipitate, which was isolated by filtration.The solid was washed with water (6×1 mL), air dried for 1 hour and driedunder vacuum over P₂O₅ overnight to give a white powder (0.072 g, 32%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 1.17 (s, 6H) 7.50 (d, J=4.98 Hz, 1H)7.67 (d, J=8.29 Hz, 2H) 7.97 (d, J=8.29 Hz, 2H) 8.69 (d, J=4.98 Hz, 1H)8.73 (s, 1H) 12.65 (br, 1H).

MS (m/z), M+1, 299.

Examples 3B-3Z

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 3A.

Example Structure 3B

3C

3D

3E

3F

3G

3H

3I

3J

3K

3L

3M

3O

3P

3Q

3R

3S

3T

3U

3V

3W

3X

3Y

3Z

Example 4: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-D)

Compounds of formula (I-D) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 4A:2-(3-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

Step A: 4-Bromo-1-naphthonitrile

A mixture of 1,4-dibromonaphthalene (24.06 g, 84 mmol) and coppercyanide (6.02 g, 67 mmol) in DMF (85 mL) was heated to 125° C.overnight. The mixture was partially concentrated to remove DMF and theresulting residue washed with aqueous ammonium hydroxide and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic layer was concentrated and purified bychromatography to yield 4-bromo-1-naphthonitrile (5.13 g, 26%).

Step B: 4-(4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile

A mixture of 4-bromo-1-naphthonitrile (4.58 g, 19.7 mmol),bis(pinacol)diboron (5.00 g, 19.7 mmol), Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (0.49 g, 0.6 mmol)and potassium acetate (5.78 g, 59.1 mmol) in DMSO was heated to 80° C.for 5 hours. The reaction mixture was washed with HCl aq. 1M, extractedwith ethyl acetate and purified by chromatography to yield4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (2.00g, 36%).

Step C: 3-bromopyridine-2-thiol

A mixture of 3-bromo-2-chloropyridine (0.769 g, 4 mmol) and sodiumsulfide (0.336 g, 6 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) was heated under microwaveirradiation at 130° C. for 0.5 hour. Water (50 mL) and ethyl acetate (20mL) were added and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was acidifiedto pH 6 resulting in the formation of a precipitate, which was isolatedby filtration and dried under vacuum to yield the product as a yellowsolid (0.42 g, 55%).

Step D: Ethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

A mixture of 3-bromopyridine-2-thiol (189 mg, 1 mmol),ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (390 mg, 2 mmol) and sodium carbonate (159 mg,1.5 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was heated to 70° C. for 1 hour. The reactionmixture was neutralized with HCl aq. 1M and extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer was dried over Mg₂SO₄, concentrated andpurified by chromatography to yield ethyl2-(3-bromopyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (0.271 g, 89%).

Step E: Ethyl2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

A mixture of ethyl 2-(3-bromopyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (271mg, 0.89 mmol),4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (248mg, 0.89 mmol), palladium tetrakis triphenylphoshine (51 mg, 0.044 mmol)and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 1.5 mL, 3 mmol) in dioxane (3mL) was degassed and heated to 80° C. for 5 hours. The mixture waswashed with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layerwas dried with Mg₂SO₄, concentrated and purified by chromatography toyield ethyl2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate (0.121g, 36%).

Step F: 2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoicacid

Ethyl 2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoate(121 mg, 0.32 mmol) in a mixture of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution(1M, 2 mL) and methanol (5 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5hours. Methanol was partially removed and the resulting residueacidified causing precipitation of the product2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid.Solid product was isolated by filtration and dried under vacuum (0.065g, 0.187 mmol, 60%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 12.47 (s, 1H), 8.56 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H),8.29 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.25 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz,1H), 7.72 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (d,J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.35 (dd, J=4.8, 7.6 Hz, 1H),1.49 (s, 6H). MS (m/z), M+1, 349.08.

Examples 4B, 4C

The compounds in the table below were prepared according to theprocedure described in example 4A.

MS (m/z), Example Structure ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm M + 1 4B

8.64 (d, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H), 8.41 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 8.04 (d, J = 7.2 Hz,1H), 7.81 (dd, J = 7.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (d, J = 5.6 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (dd,J = 7.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.45-7.53 (m, 3H), 3.74 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 3.66(d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H) 321.07 4C

12.80 (s, 1H), 8.54 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1H), 8.31 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.26(d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dd, J = 7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (dd, J = 7.6,7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.55 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.33(dd, J = 4.8, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 2.65-2.75 (m, 2H), 2.05-2-15 (m, 2H),1.90-2.01 (m, 2H) 360.93

Examples 4D-4Z

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 4A.

Example Structure 4D

4E

4F

4G

4H

4I

4J

4K

4L

4M

4N

4O

4Q

4R

4S

4T

4U

4V

4W

4X

4Y

4Z

Example 5: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-E)

Compounds of formula (I-E) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 5A: 2-(3-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetic acid

Step A: 4-(3-Chloropyrazin-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile

A mixture of 2,3-dichloropyrazine (2.98 g, 2 mmol),4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (0.558mmol, 2 mmol) palladium tetrakis triphenylphoshine (0.069 g, 0.06 mmol)and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 3 mL, 6 mmol) in dioxane (7mL) was heated to 80° C. for 12 hours. The reaction mixture cooled toroom temperature, washed with water, extracted with ethyl acetate andpurified by chromatography to yield4-(3-chloropyrazin-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (0.36 g, 68%).

Step B: Methyl 2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetate

A mixture of 4-(3-chloropyrazin-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (0.16 g, 0.6mmol), methyl thioglycolate (0.127 g, 1.2 mmol) and sodium carbonate(0.082 g, 0.78 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was heated under microwaveirradiation to 130° C. for 1 hour. The mixture was washed with water,extracted with ethyl acetate and purified by chromatography to yieldmethyl 2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetate (0.127 g,63%).

Step C: 2-(3-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetic acid

A mixture of methyl2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetate (0.125 g, 0.37mmol), aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (1M, 0.5 mL) and methanol (1mL) was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. Methanol was removedand the mixture washed with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated to dryness. Solidresidue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate and hexanes to yield2-(3-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrazin-2-ylthio)acetic acid (0.102 g,86%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 12.60 (bs, OH), 8.70 (d, J=2.4 Hz,1H), 8.60 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.36 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.29 (d, J=8.4 Hz,1H), 7.90 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (dd,J=7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 2H).

MS (m/z), M+1=322.08

Examples 5B-5Z

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 5A.

Example Structure 5A

5B

5C

5D

5E

5F

5G

5H

5I

5J

5K

5L

5M

5N

5O

5Q

5R

5S

5T

5U

5V

5W

5X

5Y

5Z

Example 6: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-F)

Compounds of formula (I-F) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 6A: 2-(5-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetic acid

Step A: methyl 2-(5-bromopyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetate

A mixture of 4-chloro-5-bromopyrimidine (0.193 g, 1.0 mmol), methyl2-mercaptoacetate (0.116 g, 1.1 mmol) and sodium carbonate (0.159 g, 1.5mmol) in DMF (0.7 mL) was heated under microwave irradiation to 150° C.for 20 minutes. The mixture was washed with water, extracted with ethylacetate and purified by chromatography to yield methyl2-(5-bromopyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetate (0.22 g, 84%).

Step B: 2-(5-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetic acid

A mixture of methyl 2-(5-bromopyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetate (220 mg, 0.84mmol), 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile(237 mg, 0.85 mmol) palladium tetrakis triphenylphoshine (46 mg, 0.04mmol) and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 1.5 mL, 3 mmol) indioxane (3 mL) was heated to 100° C. for 5 hours. The reaction mixturewas allowed to cool to room temperature and aqueous sodium hydroxidesolution added (1M, 30 mL). The mixture was washed with ethyl acetate(2×20 mL), and the aqueous layer acidified to pH 4 resulting information of a precipitate which was isolated by filtration and driedunder vacuum to yield2-(5-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-4-ylthio)acetic acid (143 mg,53%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) 12.80 (bs, OH), 9.15 (s, 1H), 8.56 (s, 1H),8.35 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.29 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz,1H), 7.75 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.6, Hz, 1H), 7.61 (d,J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 2H).

MS (m/z), M+1, 322.08

Example 6B:2-(5-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acid

2-(5-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-4-ylthio)-2-methylpropanoic acidwas prepared according to the procedures described in example 6A, usingmethyl 2-mercapto-2-methylpropanoate in place of methyl2-mercaptoacetate, in step A

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) 12.70 (bs, OH), 9.07 (s, 1H), 8.53 (s, 1H),8.33 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.27 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz,1H), 7.75 (dd, J=7.6, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.6, Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d,J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 2H).

MS (m/z), M+1, 350.08.

Examples 6C-6F

MS (m/z) Example Structure ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm M + 1 6C

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, 25° C.) 8.94 (s, 1H), 8.39 (s, 1H), 7.82 (d, J =8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.61 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 1.75 (s, 6H). 299.94 6D

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, 25° C.) 11.4 (bs, COOH), 8.94 (s, 1H), 8.41 (s,1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.61 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 2.96-3.10 (m,2H), 2.11-2.30 (m, 6H). 311.95 6E

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 12.58 (bs, COOH), 8.89 (s, 1H), 8.42(s, 1H), 7.44-7.50 (m, 4H), 5.32 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, OH), 4.59 (d, J = 6.0Hz, 2H), 1.62 (s, 6H). 305.00 6F

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 25° C.) 12.7 (bs, COOH), 8.86 (s, 1H), 8.42(s, 1H), 7.5 (s, 4H), 5.34 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, OH), 4.60 (d, J = 6.0 Hz,2H), 2.74-3.85 (m, 2H), 2.06-2.30 (m, 6H). 317.01

Examples 6G-5Z

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 6A.

Example Structure 6G

6H

6I

6G

6K

6L

6M

6N

6O

6P

6Q

6R

6T

6U

6V

6W

6X

6Y

6Z

 6AA

 6AA

 6BB

 6CC

 6DD

Example 7: Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I-G)

Compounds of formula (I-G) may be prepared according to the generalschemes shown below:

Example 7A: 2-(4-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetic acid

Step A: 4-(5-Bromopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-naphthonitrile

A mixture of 4-chloro-5-bromopyrimidine (193 mg, 1 mmol),4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (279mg, 1 mmol) palladium tetrakis triphenylphoshine (0.023 g, 0.02 mmol)and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2M, 1.5 mL, 3 mmol) in dioxane (3mL) was heated to 80° C. for 12 hours. The reaction mixture cooled toroom temperature, washed with water, extracted with ethyl acetate andpurified by chromatography to yield4-(5-bromopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (214 mg, 69%).

Step B: Methyl 2-(4-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetate

A mixture of 4-(5-bromopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-naphthonitrile (45 mg, 0.14mmol), methyl thioglycolate (74 mg, 0.7 mmol) and potassium carbonate(27 mg, 0.2 mmol) in DMF (0.6 mL) was heated under microwave irradiationto 160° C. for 0.5 hour. The mixture was washed with water, extractedwith ethyl acetate and purified by chromatography to yield methyl2-(4-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetate (22 mg, 47%).

Step C: 2-(4-(4-Cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetic acid

A mixture of methyl2-(4-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetate (22 mg, 0.065mmol), aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (1M, 0.5 mL) and methanol (1mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Methanol was removedand aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (1M, 1 mL) and ethyl acetate (3mL) were added. The aqueous layer was removed, acidified and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The second organic layer was concentrated to drynessto yield 2-(4-(4-cyanonaphthalen-1-yl)pyrimidin-5-ylthio)acetic acid (19mg, 91%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, 25° C.) 9.26 (s, 1H), 9.03 (s, 1H), 8.71 (bs,1H), 8.39 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.50 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (dd, J=7.2,7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.55-7.66 (m, 2H), 7.61 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 2H).

MS (m/z), M+1=322.08

Examples 7B-7Z

The compounds in the table below are prepared according to theprocedures described in example 7A.

Example Structure 7B

7C

7D

7E

7F

7G

7H

7I

7J

7K

7L

7N

7O

7P

7Q

7R

7S

7T

7U

7V

7W

7X

7Y

7Z

II. Biological Evaluation Example 8: Evaluation with URAT1-Model Assay

HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells (ATCC #CRL-1573) were propagated inEMEM tissue culture medium as described by ATCC in an atmosphere of 5%CO₂ and 95% air. Transfections of HEK293 cells with a model URAT1construct was performed using L2000 transfection reagent (Invitrogen) asdescribed by the manufacturer. After 24 h the transfected cells weresplit into 10 cm tissue culture plates and grown for 1 day after whichthe medium was replaced with fresh growth medium containing G418 (Gibco)at 0.5 mg/ml final concentration. Drug-resistant colonies were selectedafter approximately 8 days and then tested for ¹⁴C-uric acid transportactivity. The HEK293/URAT1-model cells are plated on Poly-D-LysineCoated 96-well Plates at a density of 125,000 cells per well.

Cells were grown overnight (20-26 hours) at 37° C. in an incubator.Plates were allowed to come to room temperature and media was washed outwith one wash of 250 μl of Wash Buffer (125 mM Na Gluconate, 10 mM Hepesph 7.3). Compound or vehicle is added in assay buffer with ¹⁴C-uric acidfor a final concentration of 125 μM Uric Acid with a specific activityof 54 mCi/mmol. Assay Buffer is 125 mM Sodium Gluconate, 4.8 mMPotassium Gluconate, 1.2 mM Potassium phosphate, monobasic, 1.2 mMmagnesium sulfate, 1.3 mM Ca Gluconate, 5.6 mM Glucose, 25 mM HEPES, pH7.3. Plates were incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes thenwashed 3 times with 50 μl Wash Buffer and 3 times with 250 μl WashBuffer. Microscint 20 Scintillation Fluid was added and plates wereincubated overnight at room temperature to equilibrate. Plates are thenread on the TopCount Plate Reader and an EC50 value generated. (SeeEnomoto et al, Nature, 2002, 417, 447-451 and Anzai et al, J. Biol.Chem., 2004, 279, 45942-45950.)

Compounds as described herein were tested according to the protocoldescribed above against URAT-1 model; the results are shown in the tablebelow wherein:

A represents an EC₅₀ value in the range of ≤10 μM to >0.5 μM;B represents an EC₅₀ value in the range of ≤0.5 μM to >0.05 μM; andC represents an EC₅₀ value in the range of ≤0.05 μM to >0.001 μM.

URAT1 EC50 Activity Example Structure Ranking 1A

B 2A

C 4C

B 6B

A 2H

B 2I

A 2J

C 2K

B 2M

A 2N

B 2O

C 2P

C 2Q

B 2R

A 2S

B 2T

B 2U

B 2V

A 2X

C 2Y

A 2BB

B 2CC

B 2DD

B 2EE

B 2FF

A 2GG

B 2HH

A 2II

B 2JJ

C 2KK

B 2LL

A 2MM

B 2NN

C 2PP

C 2TT

B 2UU

C 2VV

A 2WW

B 2XX

B 2YY

A 2ZZ

B 2AAA

C 2BBB

B 2CCC

B 2DDD

B 2EEE

B 2FFF

C 3A

A 4A

B 4B

A 5A

A 6A

A 7A

A 2B

A 2C

C 2D

B 2E

A 2F

B 2G

A 2L

A 2W

B 2Z

A 2AA

B 2OO

A 2QQ

A 2RR

A 2SS

A 2GGG

B 2HHH

A 2III

C 2JJJ

B

The examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrativepurposes only and various modifications or changes suggested toindividuals skilled in the art are to be included within the spirit andpurview of this application and scope of the appended claims.

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein: R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from H, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl;or R^(a) and R^(b), together with the carbon atom to which they areattached, form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containingone or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S; M is H, C₁₋₃ alkyl or apharmaceutically acceptable cation; X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄alkyl); X² is N or CH; X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄ alkyl); X⁴ isN or CH; wherein one of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N; Y¹ is N or CR¹; Y² is Nor CR²; R¹ is H, CF₃, CH₃, OCH₃, F or Cl; R² is H, methyl, ethyl,propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH, OCH₃,ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH, COOR^(2′),CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃ alkyl; R³ is H,halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; and R⁴ is H, halogen,—CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ together with thecarbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionally substituted5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or two heteroatomsselected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring is asaturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring; provided that thecompound of formula (I) is not1-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)-pyridin-4-ylthio)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid. 2.-6.(canceled)
 7. A compound of claim 1, wherein R³ is H, CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, For Cl; and R⁴ is H, CH₃, OCH₃, CF₃, F or Cl.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A compoundof claim 1, wherein R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon atoms to whichthey are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring,optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S,wherein said 5- or 6-membered ring maybe a saturated, an unsaturated oran aromatic ring.
 10. (canceled)
 11. A compound of claim 1, of formula(I-K):

wherein n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and each R⁵ is independently selected from H,methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl,CF₃, OH, OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN,COOH, COOR^(5′), CONH₂, CONHR^(5′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(5′) is H orC₁₋₃ alkyl.
 12. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(a) is H or CH₃; andR^(b) is H or CH₃.
 13. A compound of claim 12, wherein R^(a) and R^(b)are both CH₃.
 14. (canceled)
 15. A compound of claim 13, wherein X¹ isCH; X² is N; X³ is CH; and X⁴ is CH.
 16. A compound of claim 15, whereinY¹ is CR¹; and Y² is CR².
 17. A compound of claim 1 selected from thegroup consisting of:


18. (canceled)
 19. A compound of claim 16, wherein R¹, R³ and R⁴ are allH.
 20. A compound of claim 1, wherein R^(a) and R^(b) together with thecarbon atom to which they are attached form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-memberedring, optionally containing one or two heteroatoms selected from O, Nand S.
 21. (canceled)
 22. A compound of claim 20, wherein R^(a) andR^(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a3-membered ring.
 23. A compound of claim 1, wherein M is H.
 24. Acompound of claim 1, wherein M is C₁-C₃ alkyl.
 25. A compound of claim1, wherein M is a pharmaceutically acceptable cation.
 26. A compound ofclaim 25, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable cation is Na⁺, Li⁺,K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium,methylamino, dimethylamino, trimethylamino or triethylamino.
 27. Amethod of reducing serum uric acid levels in a human, comprisingadministering to the human an effective amount of a compound of formula(I):

wherein: R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from H, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl;or R^(a) and R^(b), together with the carbon atom to which they areattached, form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containingone or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S; M is H, C₁₋₃ alkyl or apharmaceutically acceptable cation; X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄alkyl); X² is N or CH; X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄ alkyl); X⁴ isN or CH; wherein at least one of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N; Y¹ is N or CR¹;Y² is N or CR²; R¹ is H, CF₃, CH₃, OCH₃, F or Cl; R² is H, methyl,ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH,OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH,COOR^(2′), CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃alkyl; R³ is H, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; and R⁴ isH, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ togetherwith the carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring. 28.-30.(canceled)
 31. A method of treating or preventing a conditioncharacterized by abnormal tissue or organ levels of uric acid in anindividual comprising administering to the individual an effectiveamount of a compound of formula (I)

wherein: R^(a) and R^(b) are selected from H, halogen, C₁ to C₆ alkyl;or R^(a) and R^(b), together with the carbon atom to which they areattached, form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containingone or two heteroatoms selected from O, N and S; M is H, C₁₋₃ alkyl or apharmaceutically acceptable cation; X¹ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄alkyl); X² is N or CH; X³ is N, CH, C(halogen) or C(C₁-C₄ alkyl); X⁴ isN or CH; wherein at least one of X¹, X², X³ or X⁴ is N; Y¹ is N or CR¹;Y² is N or CR²; R¹ is H, CF₃, CH₃, OCH₃, F or Cl; R² is H, methyl,ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, CF₃, OH,OCH₃, ethoxy, SH, SCH₃, SCH₂CH₃, CH₂OH, C(CH₃)₂OH, Cl, F, CN, COOH,COOR^(2′), CONH₂, CONHR^(2′) or SO₂NH₂; wherein R^(2′) is H or C₁₋₃alkyl; R³ is H, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; and R⁴ isH, halogen, —CN, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₆ alkoxy; or R³ and R⁴ togetherwith the carbon atoms to which they are attached form an optionallysubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring, optionally containing one or twoheteroatoms selected from O, N and S, wherein said 5- or 6-membered ringmaybe a saturated, an unsaturated or an aromatic ring.
 32. The method ofclaim 31, wherein the condition is gout, a recurrent gout attack, goutyarthritis, hyperuricaemia, hypertension, a cardiovascular disease,coronary heart disease, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmillersyndrome, kidney disease, kidney stones, kidney failure, jointinflammation, arthritis, urolithiasis, plumbism, hyperparathyroidism,psoriasis, sarcoidosis, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase(HPRT) deficiency or a combination thereof. 33.-36. (canceled)
 37. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the condition is kidney disease.
 38. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the condition is a cardiovascular disease.39. The method of claim 31, further comprising administration of axanthine oxidase inhibitor.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein thexanthine oxidase inhibitor is allopurinol or febuxostat.